The Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court remanded three suspects on charges of destroying evidence and an accessory after the fact of the murder in connection to the death of businessman Henry Katanga.
They include Patricia Kakwanza a businesswoman and resident of Mbuya Citadel apartment in Nakawa Division, Charles Otai a Nursing Officer resident of Kireka B Cell Kira Municipality Wakiso District and George Amanyire a shamba boy resident of Chwa 2 Road, Nakawa Division.
The trio was on Tuesday arraigned before the Chief Magistrate, Erias Kakooza who read to them the charges.
The Court heard that on 2nd November 2023 at Mbuya Chwa 2 Road in Nakawa Division Kampala City knowing that diverse things at the scene of crime may be required in evidence in a judicial proceeding, Kakwanza removed or destroyed them or rendered them illegible or undecipherable or incapable of identification with intent thereby to prevent them from being used in evidence.
RELATED STORIES
Prosecution alleges that Patricia Kakwanza committed the crime together with Nkwanzi Martha Katanga who has not yet been arrested. Kakwanza Patricia and Martha Nkwanzi are said to be related to the deceased.
The Prosecution on the other hand accuses Charles Otai and George Amanyire for having received or assisted other people who were liable for an offense, in order to enable them to escape the punishment.
The three who were sent on remand appear on the same file with Molly Katanga the wife of the deceased who is singularly charged with the murder of her husband by shooting him dead. The other suspect, Martha Nkwanzi was yet to be produced before the courts of law. A statement from the DPP had earlier indicated that Martha Nkwanzi was hospitalized.
The three suspects who appeared in court on Tuesday afternoon denied the charges and through their lawyer, Elson Karuhanga attempted to apply for bail. However, the Magistrate said the bail application will be heard on December 4th, 2023, the same day when the accused persons will be returning from Luzira prison where they have been remanded.
The Prosecution informed the Court that investigations into this case are still ongoing.
Preliminary investigations indicate that Amanyire was the shamba boy who was allegedly ordered by Molly Katanga to help Martha Nkwanzi Katanga to carry the body from the murder scene following a shooting.
Henry Katanga and his wife Molly Katanga had been supplying items to key government agencies including the Ministry of Defense.
Henry Katanga was one of the Ankole kingdom princes while his wife Molly Katanga is a relative and close confidant to key government and security officials who were allegedly doing whatever possible to save her from facing murder offenses.
Tricia Katanga who was called in later after the murder had happened has not been charged with any offence. She will perhaps appear as a witness against her mother and sister.
