A prosecution witness at the trial of Molly Katanga told the Court that the daughter of the deceased Henry Katanga asked the Police to falsify the cause of the death.
Peter Ogwang, the Officer in Charge of Bugolobi Police Station was the third witness in the case in which Molly Katanga is accused of murdering her late husband Henry Katanga.
Ogwang on Wednesday told the court presided over by the Criminal Division Judge Isaac Muwata that Patricia Kakwanzi, the daughter of the deceased, asked him to cover up her father’s death and report it as an accident.
However, Ogwang narrated that he advised Patricia Kakwanzi not to cover what led to her father’s death. He said he advised her to involve a Scene of Crimes officer.
Ogwang told the court that he knew Patricia Katanga before because she used to follow up cases related to Security-Plus Company at Bugolobi Police station.
He stated that on the fateful day of November 2, 2023, at around 9 am, he received a call from Dr Charles Otai informing him of an incident of suicide by shooting at a residence in Mbuya.
Ogwang testified that he found the police’s liaison officer, Samuel Musede, guarding the scene.
He went on and described the gruesome sight of Henry Katanga’s body laid on a new mattress, covered with a bed sheet, with a lot of blood in the room and on the bed, and a black pistol nearby.
On cross-examination by the defence team, it was established that some accounts of Ogwang’s oral testimony were not included in his written statement. He reportedly recorded the statement on November 6, 2023.
The defence consisted of Elison Karuhanga, McDusman Kabega, Bruce Musinguzi, John Jet Tumwebaze, and Peter Kabatsi then asked the court to accept his statement as their exhibit, raising questions about the reliability of the witness’s testimony.
Katanga died on November 2, 2023. His widow, Molly Katanga according to the Prosecutors unlawfully shot him to death.
The third prosecution witness was Timothy Nyangwesho, the deceased’s nephew.
Nyangweso testified that he attempted to reach his uncle on the day of the incident.
He said, he had spent a night at his at his mother’s home in Bugolobi and left at 7:00 in the morning.
He testified that at around 8:00 am, his mother Naome Nyangweshoasked him to call Henry Katanga, but he was unreachable.
Nyangwesho said he tried calling Henry Katanga on both his lines, but no one picked up.
He said Naome Nyangwesho r who was the deceased’s eldest sister then asked him to call Martha, Katanga’s daughter.
Nyangwesho testified that he called Martha Nkwanzi at around 9:10 am, and she told him that her father was sleeping and asked him to call back later.
The Court has heard that when Nyangwesho called his mother back to report the conversation, she informed him that Henry Katanga was dead.
Nyangwesho further testified that he drove back to Bugolobi and found his mother at the gate.
He said they proceeded to Katanga’s home in Mbuya, where they found many senior police and army officers.
Nyangwesho stated that he was stopped from going upstairs by a UPDF officer who only allowed his mother Naome Nyangwesho to proceed.
Under cross-examination by Elison Karuhanga, Nyangweso confirmed that he recorded a statement at the police station on January 8, 2024, two months after the incident.
Karuhanga suggested that Timothy Nyangweso’s statement was made to fill gaps in the investigation.
Nyangwesho denied this. Karuhanga also questioned Nyangwesho about his phone conversation with Martha Nkwanzi, pointing out that Nyangwesho’s phone number was not among the contacts listed in the police forensic report.
Nyangwesho admitted that the phone number he called was not Martha Nkwanzi’s number and was not saved in his phone.
The prosecution was represented by Assistant DPP, Samalie Wakooli, and Chief State Attorneys Jonathan Muwaganya and Annah Kiiza requested an adjournment to present more witnesses, which was granted by the court.
Former Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana, Lawyers Edgar Ayebazibwe, and Brian Rubaihayo represent the interests of the deceased as watching briefs during the trial.
All accused individuals, except Molly Katanga who appeared through a Zoom link connecting to Luzira Women’s Prison, are currently out on bail.
The matter will resume on Friday, July 12, 2024.
The other accused individuals, Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kankwanzi, face charges related to tampering and destroying evidence that could have been used to substantiate their father’s murder, and for aiding and abetting the crime (being an accessory after the fact of murder) alongside the family ‘s Shamba Boy George Amanyire and Charles Otai a Nursing Officer.
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