DPP: Molly Katanga to face murder charge

DPP Sanctions Murder Charges Against Molly Katanga

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Jane Frances Abodo has slapped murder charges against Molly Katanga for allegedly killing her husband Henry Katanga.

Police say Henry Katanga was shot dead using a pistol inside their master bedroom at Mbuya Hill on November 1.

Police detectives, after getting two clues during investigations decided to compile reports for both accounts. The first one pointed to possible suicide while another pointed to murder.

However, during investigations, it was established that Henry Katanga’s body was removed from the master bedroom to the sitting room.

Investigations revealed that there was a deliberate effort to erase evidence with the help of the deceased’s daughter and shamba boy. It was established that Dr Charles Otai was also invited in an attempt to disguise his death as suicide.

After compiling evidence, the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) and the Directorate of Forensic Science (DFS) agreed to submit the evidence to the DPP to decide the fate of every suspect in the murder.

Jacqueline Okui, the DPP spokesperson on Tuesday confirmed that murder charges have been slapped against Molly Katanga.

Okui also explained that Patricia Kakwanza and Martha Katanga Nkwanzi have been charged with destroying evidence by tampering with the murder scene.

Tricia Katanga who was called in later after the murder had happened has not been charged with any offence. She will perhaps appear as a witness against her mother and sister.

“Furthermore, the DPP has sanctioned the charge of accessory after George Amanyire and Charles Otai,” Okui said.

Amanyire was the shamba boy who was allegedly ordered by Molly Katanga to help Martha Nkwanzi Katanga to carry the body from the murder scene.

Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court has remanded the suspects on charges of destroying evidence and an accessory after the fact of the murder in connection to the death of businessman Katanga.

They are Kakwanza a businesswoman and resident of Mbuya Citadel apartment in Nakawa Division, Otai a Nursing Officer resident of Kireka B Cell Kira Municipality Wakiso District and Amanyire a shamba boy resident of  Chwa 2 Road, Nakawa Division.

The trio was on Tuesday arraigned before the Chief Magistrate, Erias Kakooza who read to them the charges.

The Court heard that on 2nd November 2023 at Mbuya Chwa 2 Road in Nakawa Division Kampala City knowing that diverse things at the scene of crime may be required in evidence in a judicial proceeding, Kakwanza removed or destroyed them or rendered them illegible or undecipherable or incapable of identification with intent thereby to prevent them from being used in evidence.

Prosecution alleges that Kakwanza committed the crime together with Nkwanzi Martha Katanga who has not yet been arrested.

The Prosecution on the other hand accuses Otai and Amanyire for having received or assisted other people who were liable for an offense, in order to enable them to escape the punishment.

The three who were sent on remand appear on the same file with Molly Katanga the wife of the deceased who is singularly charged with the murder of her husband by shooting him dead.

The three suspects who appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon denied the charges and through their lawyer, Elson Karuhanga attempted to apply for bail. However, the Magistrate said the bail application will be heard on December 4th, 2023, the same day when the accused persons will be returning from Luzira prison where they have been remanded.

The Prosecution informed the Court that investigations into this case are still ongoing.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Amanyire was the shamba boy who was allegedly ordered by Molly Katanga to help Martha Nkwanzi Katanga to carry the body from the murder scene following a shooting.

Henry Katanga and his wife Molly Katanga had been supplying items to key government agencies including the Ministry of Defense.

Henry Katanga was one of the Ankole kingdom princes while his wife Molly Katanga is a relative and close confidant to key government and security officials.

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