Molly Katanga, the widow and primary suspect in the high-profile murder of businessman Henry Katanga, has denied killing her husband. On July 2, she appeared before the High Court in Kampala, where she entered a plea of “not guilty.”
Ms. Katanga, appearing in a wheelchair, responded softly to the murder charge against her. Her co-accused, daughters Martha Nkwanzi Katanga and Patricia Kakwanza, who face charges of destroying evidence, also pleaded not guilty.
During the court session presided over by Justice Isaac Muwata, other accused individuals, Otai Charles, a medic who allegedly appeared at Katanga’s residence shortly after his shooting, and George Amanyire, a shamba boy, denied the charge of being accessories after the fact of murder.
The session ended prematurely when Assistant DPP Samali Wakoli sought to amend the charge sheet. The proposed amendments included adding a charge of being an accessory after the fact of murder to Katanga’s daughters and charging Amanyire and Otai with destroying evidence.
Ms. Wakoli argued that the amendments would not cause any injustice to the accused, citing Section 50 and sub-section 2 of the Trial of Indictments Act. However, defense lawyers, led by Peter Kabatsi from Kampala Associated Advocates (KAA), objected to the amendments. Kabatsi argued that it would be unjust to charge individuals who were not properly committed to the High Court.
Bruce Musinguzi, another defense lawyer from KAA, contended that the law does not allow the DPP to introduce fresh charges at this stage. Renowned criminal lawyer MacDosman Kabega further moved to amend the charge sheet to specify the items allegedly destroyed by the Katanga daughters.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Muwata announced that he would deliver his ruling the following day at 10 am.
The prosecution alleges that on November 2, 2023, Ms. Katanga, with malice aforethought, caused the death of her husband by shooting him with a pistol, a charge she denies. On the day of the incident, Molly was found in a pool of blood and was subsequently rushed to the hospital.
