By Spy Uganda
The High Court in Kampala is set to deliver a ruling on the third bail application of 55-year-old Molly Katanga, who stands accused of the brutal murder of her husband, Henry Katanga, on November 2, 2023. The ruling, scheduled for February 21, 2025, will mark another significant moment in a case that has captured considerable public attention.
Katanga, a widow, has faced two previous bail rejections, with Justice Isaac Muwata consistently ruling that her circumstances did not meet the threshold for exceptional circumstances needed to grant her release. Despite her defense team’s claims of serious health concerns—ranging from nasal sinusitis and vertigo to breast masses and hypertension—the court has dismissed her appeals, deeming the conditions insufficiently severe to alter the ruling.
In his latest dismissal of Katanga’s bail application on Friday, Justice Muwata emphasized that her health issues were neither new nor pressing enough to warrant a change in her detention status. The court has thus far maintained that her condition does not hinder her ability to stand trial, nor does it represent a unique situation demanding her release.
While Katanga remains in custody, her two daughters, Martha Nkwanzi and Kakwanza Patricia, are also implicated in the case, facing charges of evidence tampering. Interestingly, both women, along with the family’s shamba boy, George Amanyire, and nursing officer Charles Otai, have already been granted bail, adding another layer of complexity to the legal proceedings.
Katanga’s legal team continues to argue that she requires home-based care, citing her ongoing health struggles. However, with the court’s persistent rejections, the next few days will be crucial in determining whether her third attempt at bail will succeed or fail.
The trial, which has already generated significant public interest due to its high-profile nature, is far from over, and the court’s ruling next week could potentially shift the direction of the case.
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