Supreme Court upholds life imprisonment sentence for Kato Kajubi

By Rachael Najjuma

12^th Nov 2021

The Supreme Court has upheld the life sentence handed to businessman Godfrey Kato Kajubi for masterminding the ritual murder of a 12-year-old boy, Joseph Kasirye.

In 2012, the then Masaka High Court Judge Mike Chibita convicted Kasirye for masterminding the ritual sacrifice of Kasirye on October 27 2008. He was accordingly sentenced to life imprisonment.

In 2014 Kajubi appealed, but the Court of Appeal upheld the life sentence. The court dismissed all Kajubi’s four grounds of appeal but Kajubi then appealed to the Supreme Court on grounds that the witch doctor and his wife’s testimonies were full of grave inconsistencies meant to exonerate Kateregga with intentions of implicating Kajubi which was improper according to him.

His lawyers argued further that, the lower court Judges did not consider the charge and caution statement made at police by Umar Kateregga a where he reportedly admitted to having killed Kasirye.

They also noted that the sentence was harsh and that it was not consistent with others sentences passed to similar offenders in cases of similar nature.

However in their ruling today, the five Justices of the Supreme Court Alfonse Owiny-Dolo, Rubby Opio Aweri, Ezekiel Muhanguzi, Percy Night Tuhaise and Lillian Tibatemwa agreed with the lower courts that Kajubi played a key role in the murder of Kasirye.

Kajubi’s lawyer Godfrey Turyamusiima said that it is unfortunate that their client has lost the case. He however says that they will apply for a review of the case.