Katanga murder: New judge takes over case as widow applies for bail
Ms Molly Katanga, the key suspect in the murder of her husband, businessman Henry Katanga, is wheeled into the High Court premises in Kampala on July 3, 2024. PHOTO/ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
- On the previous two unsuccessful occasions, Justice Muwata declined to release Ms Katanga on bail, reasoning that no exceptional circumstances such as sickness and old age were proved.
A new judge has been tapped to continue with the hearing of the high profile murder case in which five people are accused of being behind the murder of Kampala businessman Henry Katanga.
The matter had come up earlier on January 21 for further hearing but the parties instead met in the chambers of Deputy Registrar Festo Nsenga, who briefed them that a new judge has taken over the matter on account that the previous trial judge, Mr Isaac Muwata was indisposed.
“Before we proceed, I want to inform this court that we are changing judges because the trial judge (Justice Muwata) is indisposed,” Registrar Nsenga told the parties present.
Though the name of the new judge was not mentioned during the brief chamber proceedings, this publication understands that it’s Justice Rossete Comfort Kania, one of the judges attached to the Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala.
At the last adjournment of the case on December 5, 2024, 10 prosecution witnesses had testified against the accused persons.
The long adjournment was to enable the old trial judge recover and resume with the hearing but in vain.
The suspects include the widow, Molly Katanga and her two daughters Martha Nkwanzi, Patricia Kakwanza.
Others are Charles Otai, a medic who among the first people to arrive at the home of the late Katanga on the fateful day of November 2, 2023 and Mr George Amanyire, a shamba boy at the Katangas home.
On November 2, 2023, Mr Katanga was found dead at his residence in Mbuya in Kampala following what is believed to be a domestic brawl with his wife.
The widow was later arrested and she is the key suspect in the murder case.
Also during today’s brief proceedings, the defense lawyers led by Jet Tumwebaze and Elison Karuhanga, intimated to court how their client, the widow has filed a fresh bail application.
The registrar said the same bail application will be heard on February 7 before the new judge.
The prosecution side was represented by Mr Jaonathan Muwaganya and Ms Anna Kiiza.
This will be the third time that the widow applies to be released on bail.
On the previous two unsuccessful occasions, Justice Muwata declined to release Ms Katanga on bail, reasoning that no exceptional circumstances such as sickness and old age were proved.
The judge also reasoned that the gravity of the offense of murder is serious and that since the prosecution had concluded the investigations into the case, it was better to fast track the hearing and determine her fate as quickly as possible.
