By Elizabeth Ankunda
04th Dec 2023
The Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court has issued a second set of Criminal Summons against Molly Katanga and her Daughter Martha Nkwanzi, requiring them to appear in court and be charged with the murder of businessman Henry Katanga.
The summons were issued on Monday by the Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza against Katanga who is the widow of the deceased and her daughter after they failed to show up in court as earlier summoned on November 21st 2023.
The summons was issued shortly after remanding three of their co accused who have further been remanded.
The three are the deceased’s 31-year-old daughter Patricia Kakwanzi who is charged with destroying evidence, 30-year-old George Amanyire who was the Shamba boy at Katanga’s home and Nursing Officer Otai Charles, who are on charges of being Accessories after the fact (of murder).
According to the Prosecution, Katanga was shot dead on November 2nd 2023 at Mbuya Chwa Two Road, Nakawa Division Kampala Capital City by his 55-year-old wife Molly Katanga.
Her daughters, Martha Nkwanzi Katanga, a student residing at Mbuya and Patricia Kakwanza, a business woman residing at Mbuya, knowing that diverse things at the scene of crime may be required in evidence in a judicial proceeding, removed or destroyed them and thus rendered them eligible for identification.
Prosecution further states that Amanyire and Otai received or assisted other people who were to their knowledge liable for an offence, in order to enable them escape punishment.
However, when the matter came up on Monday, Molly Katanga and Nkwanzi did not show up on grounds that they are respectively admitted at International Hospital in Kampala (IHK) and Roswell Women and Children Hospital.
Instead, they have sent a team of lawyers composed of Elison Karuhanga, Bruce Musinguzi and Jet Tumwebaze to inform the court that Molly Katanga is advised to be kept under a doctor’s watch due to severe head and brain injuries and a hand fracture she suffered.
To support their arguments, the lawyers have then presented a letter and still pictures explaining that Molly Katanga was operated upon for those injuries and she is therefore not yet stable to attend court.
Regarding her daughter Nkwanzi, the court has heard she has just given birth at Rosewell Hospital and suffers from postpartum effects for which doctors recommended that she equally needs close supervision.
As such, the lawyers have promised to bring the widow and her daughter Nkwazi as soon as they get well so as to be charged with the offenses against them.
However, the Prosecution led by Mariam Kulthum asked for a warrant of arrest against the widow and her daughter Nkwanzi saying that they snubbed court and also added that the investigations are still ongoing in this case.
After hearing from both parties, the Chief Magistrate Kakooza declined to issue a warrant of arrest and instead extended the criminal summons requiring the two to appear in court on January 8th 2024 for reading of charges against them.
The three who were charged last month have also been further remanded until then.
END
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