Katanga murder: Court sets date to hear widow’s bail application

The High Court in Kampala has scheduled April 9, 2024, for the hearing to decide on a bail application filed by Molly Katanga, 54, who stands accused of murdering her husband, Henry Katanga.

Molly Katanga, who did not physically attend court proceedings but joined via video conference at Luzira Women’s Prison, presented four sureties, including Health Minister in-charge of Primary Health Care Margret Muhanga. However, the prosecution rejected her two elderly sureties, Dr. Patrick Kaboya and General Emmanuel Burundi, due to their advanced age (70-77 years).

Additionally, her third surety, Geoffrey Kamuntu, was objected to by the DPP because he was under police investigation for allegedly obstructing justice by placing SFC soldiers at Molly Katanga’s hospital bed at IHK to keep away investigators.

The prosecutors, led by Jonathan Muwaganya and Samali Wakholi, then asked Justice Isaac Muwata to deny the bail application and proceed to trial on July 2, 2024, citing their main evidence, a ballistic DNA report which found gunpowder residue on Molly’s hands and clothes.

Molly was arrested and charged with her husband’s murder on November 2, 2023, at their home on Cwa II Road in Mbuya, Nakawa division.

The widow now awaits trial alongside her two daughters, Patrica Kakwanza and Martha Nkwazi, who are accused of destroying valuable evidence. The family’s shamba boy, George Amanyire, and a nurse, Charles Otai, are charged with being accessories after the murder. The two daughters, Amanyire, and Otai were released on a Shs2 million cash bail last month.

In her application, already presented by her lawyers Elison Karuhanga and Jet Tumwebaze, Molly mentions that she still requires specialized care and supervision from her doctors for the scalp injuries sustained on November 2, 2023, the day her husband was shot dead.

She explains in her affidavit that she spent two months under the intensive care of IHK hospital and underwent five major scalp surgeries. However, before her full recovery, she was arraigned before the Nakawa Court on January 24, 2024, and remanded to Luzira Women’s Prison.

Molly now requests the court to grant her bail, emphasizing the importance of post-operative surgery for her to prove her innocence. She states that the treatment is not available at Luzira hospital, where she is currently detained, which might delay her recovery.

Furthermore, Molly asserts that she has a fixed place of residence known to investigators and is gainfully employed. She pledges not to interfere with any state witnesses and assures the court of her willingness to abide by any terms set forth.