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Molly, alongside her daughters, Patricia Kakwanza and Martha Nkwanzi, as well as George Amanyire, a domestic worker, and Charles Otai, a nursing officer, is facing charges related to the murder.
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COURT - The High Court in Kampala resumed the hearing of the high-profile murder trial of Molly Katanga, who is accused of killing her husband, businessman Henry Katanga, on Tuesday. Molly, alongside her daughters, Patricia Kakwanza and Martha Nkwanzi, as well as George Amanyire, a domestic worker, and Charles Otai, a nursing officer, is facing charges related to the murder. The trial, presided over by Justice Isaac Muwata, continued with intense cross-examination by the defense.
The defense, led by Jet Tumwebaze, and supported by lawyers Peter Kabatsi, Elison Karuhanga, MacDosman Kabega, and Bruce Musinguzi, challenged the testimony of Naome Nyangweso, the deceased’s sister, during cross-examination. Nyangweso had previously testified as the ninth prosecution witness, linking key pieces of evidence to the case. The defense pushed for the court to admit documents that were recovered during a police search at a restaurant, which Nyangweso mentioned in her testimony.
The state is represented by the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Samali Wakooli, with support from Chief State Attorneys Jonathan Muwaganya and Anna Kiiza. Renowned lawyer Mwesigwa Rukutana is also involved, monitoring the proceedings on behalf of the Katanga family.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, Kabega interrogated Nyangweso about the nature of a group photograph and its relevance to the case, attempting to suggest that there were inconsistencies in her testimony. He pressed her on the identities of individuals in the photograph, which included several of Katanga’s relatives. Kabega questioned whether Katanga had expressed paranoia about a "dangerous group" that allegedly targeted him. Nyangweso insisted that her brother had not been paranoid and did not disclose specific names to her.
The defense then shifted focus to documents seized during a police search at Banana Bar and Bistro on November 15, 2023, a location where Nyangweso had kept a safe containing important documents belonging to Katanga. Kabega questioned Nyangweso about the contents of the safe, which included land titles and a notebook. According to Nyangweso, she had signed a photocopy of the police inventory after the search but retained copies of the documents.
Kabega made a formal request to the court to compel Nyangweso to produce the documents she mentioned, which, according to her testimony, remained in her possession. "We are making an application that she be ordered to produce all the documents which the police searched at Banana Restaurant," Kabega stated, arguing that the defense needed access to these documents to support their case.
However, the prosecution objected to the defense’s request. Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Samali Wakooli argued that the application was irrelevant to the murder trial, stating, "This is not a trial relating to the administration of an estate. The properties of the deceased have nothing to do with this trial." She questioned the legal grounds for compelling Nyangweso to produce documents not directly tied to the murder charges.
The defense countered by highlighting Nyangweso’s earlier testimony, where she had discussed the search and recovery of the documents in detail. Kabega accused the prosecution of trying to prevent the court from examining potentially important evidence, leading to a heated exchange between the two legal teams.
The judge has yet to rule on whether the documents will be admitted into evidence, with the next session of the trial scheduled to continue on Monday.
The trial remains one of the most closely watched cases in Uganda, drawing attention for its dramatic twists and the high-profile nature of the accused and the victim. The defense team continues to explore all avenues in an attempt to exonerate Molly Katanga and her co-accused, while the prosecution remains steadfast in presenting evidence to prove their involvement in the murder.
Torch Media Africa
