Drama unfolded in the High Court as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) raised objections to the plea-taking process in the murder case of businessman Henry Katanga. State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, representing the DPP, sought the court’s ruling on whether suspects facing minor charges on the same sheet with capital offenses can be handled by the magistrates’ court.
The four suspects, including Charles Otai (nursing officer), Patricia Kakwenza (32-year-old daughter), Martha Nkwanzi Katanga, and George Amanyire, were initially permitted to take their plea before the Chief Magistrate of Nakawa on charges of tampering with evidence in the case.
However, lawyers representing the Katangas, McDusman Kabega, Elison Karuhanga, and Bruce Musinguzi, accused the DPP of abusing the court process. They argued that the DPP had a representative during the plea-taking, who never raised any objections.
Defence lawyer Bruce Musinguzi highlighted a series of instances where the DPP allegedly caused delays in the proceedings, accusing them of “the highest form of abuse of court process by a public office.” Musinguzi further accused the DPP of resorting to legal tricks to deliberately delay the trial of the suspects.
The ruling date on the DPP’s objection is scheduled for January 24, 2024, while the court is set to hear the bail application for the suspects on January 17.
Prosecutors allege that Henry Katanga was murdered at his home in Mbuya, a city suburb, on November 2, 2023. The charges involve Katanga’s wife Molly Katanga, shamba boy George Amanyire, nurse Charles Otai, and the deceased’s daughters Patricia Nkwanza Katanga and Martha Katanga.
Patricia Katanga has been in detention since November 21, 2023, while Martha Katanga, a lactating mother with a one-month-old baby, was detained on January 10, 2024.
