DPP orders fresh probe into murder at singer Chameleone's home
Jose Chameleone. File Photo
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Maj Kyamanywa added he had been out of the country in Somalia and that when he returned home, he was told how no one was prosecuted over the death of his son.
KAMPALA- The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Justice Mike Chibita, yesterday ordered the police to reopen the murder case file of Robert Karamagi.
Karamagi was allegedly burnt at the home of renowned local artiste Joseph Mayanja a.k.a. Jose Chameleone, three years ago.
The DPP’s orders to police follow the storming of his office in Kampala by Maj Benedicto Kyamanywa, the father of deceased, demanding to know why his son’s file was closed without apprehending the suspects, three years later.
In his response, the DPP said the file was closed some time last year as there was no sufficient evidence to have the file sanctioned in court.
“Yes the file was closed sometime last year but the closing of the file is not a permanent thing. It can be reopened if there is new credible evidence,” Justice Chibita said at his office in Kampala while responding to questions from journalists.
He added: “The reason we closed the file was that the prime witness gave three contradicting statements and this could not be relied upon to secure a conviction but we have agreed that the father of the deceased gets in touch with the police and gives them fresh evidence for consideration.”
“We shall consider his evidence and any other fresh evidence and see if the same file can be sanctioned,” he said.
The DPP, however, was quick to blame his officers who handled the file but never called any of the family members of the deceased to explain to them why the file was being closed.
Maj Kyamanywa, in his petition to the DPP, claimed that he had earlier yesterday been told by officers at Katwe Police Station that his son’s file had been closed.
“Today (yesterday) when I went to CIID Katwe, they told me that the file had been closed and put away,” Maj Kyamanywa states in his petition adding: “I have decided to lodge a complaint to the DPP so that you may recall the file and review it for better legal advice.”
Maj Kyamanywa added he had been out of the country in Somalia and that when he returned home, he was told how no one was prosecuted over the death of his son.
The deceased was allegedly burnt on Boxing Day of 2012 at the home of singer Jose Chameleone located on Entebbe Road in Seguku, Wakiso District.
Karamagi’s death to date remains mysterious.
Ms Daniella Mayanja, the wife to the singer, reportedly said the deceased who had intruded at their residence burnt himself as he tried to burn her.
But Maj Kyamanywa claims his son confided in him while at Mulago hospital moments before he passed on how his hands were tied with ropes before being burnt with aviation fuel.
