By Spy Uganda
Kampala: Martha Nkwanzi Katanga, one of the daughters of the late Henry Katanga was Wednesday remanded to Luzira maximum prison by Nakawa Magistrate’s Court till 22nd January. Martha is charged with one count of destroying vital evidence, well knowing such information would be required in court for prosecution. If found guilty, the one month old mother could serve maximum sentence of seven years.
His lawyers led by renowned city lawyers Dusman Kabega, Elison Karuhanga among others had applied for her bail application on the basis that she just gave birth a month ago. Kabega also added that, although arrest warrant had been issued against his client, she brought herself today thereby making the warrant of arrest non applicable.
On Monday this week Chief Magistrate Erias Kakooza issued an arrest warrant after Nkwanzi repeatedly failed to comply with 4 criminal summons issued by the same court.
Nkwanzi is accused with destroying evidence related to her father’s alleged murder by her mother, Molly Katanga, on November 2, 2023 following an alleged dispute.
Despite her lawyers’ claims of her being hospitalized and unable to attend court last Monday, the state attorney, Jonathan Muwaganya dismissed the claims noting that she had been discharged from hospital and was fit for trial.
“It is clear that Nkwanzi is somewhere at home and not hospitalized. The medical report that is being based on by the defense lawyers is dated 28 November 2023” Muwaganya told court on Monday.
“I have heard from both counsel criminal summons can be extended for the widow because she is still hospitalized. For Martha Nkwanzi, I want to agree with the state that this court will not wait until it is convenient for her to appear in court An arrest warrant issued in respect of her,” Kakooza ruled after listening to both sides.
Nkwanzi is being charged along side others including her mother, Molly Katanga, her sister Patricia Kakwanza, Dr. Charles Otai, and George Amanyire, a domestic worker at the deceased’s residence. While Kakwanza, Otai, and Amanyire have been in custody, Molly Katanga has not been formally charged and she remains hospitalized.
According to prosecution, Molly Katanga, with malice aforethought, killed her husband on November 2 at Mbuya, Chwa 2, in Nakawa Division.
Furthermore, on the same day, Nkwanzi and Kakwanza are accused of removing or destroying potential evidence at the crime scene, with the intention of preventing its use in judicial proceedings.
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Background Of The Saga
Katanga was shot dead on November 2, 2023, at Mbuya Chwa Two Road, Nakawa Division allegedly by his wife Molly with the help of their daughter Nkwanzi.
The incident happened after an alleged misunderstanding with his wife whom he worked with at their procurement and supplies firm called MERGE which had penetrated the system and would transact with government agencies with huge classified budgets.
A police report referenced SD21/02/11/2023 at Bugolobi police station indicates that Katanga was shot at close range and that no bullets and fragments were recovered after Katanga’s body which was delivered at the city mortuary on November 2.
The report further indicates that Katanga’s body was wrapped in a mattress cover, stuffed in a vehicle, and transported to Mulago hospital mortuary.
The details of who moved the body remain a subject of ongoing police investigations.
Police said it retrieved a pistol number UG1622200061CZ99 compact that is suspected to have been used in the commission of the crime.
Shortly after his death, inside sources revealed that Katanga was allegedly murdered hours before he appended his signature on a WILL that he had prepared a week earlier and kept it in a safe box inside his office.
Sources further noted that Katanga had prepared the necessary paperwork documenting all his wealth and had only shared that secret with his sister, Naome Nyangweso and his lawyer.
At the time of his death, another source within the family revealed that Katanga had just made a transaction of shs16 billion.
“Besides working with Molly, he had other different lines of making his own money including money lending. He had so far gotten shs16 billion,” a source who preferred anonymity revealed at the time.
Katanga had been taking care of a number of orphans of his dead siblings and loved them as his own children including the two children of his sister Naome; Timothy Nyangweso and Marjorie Nyangweso.
Relatives highly anticipate that Katanga was planning to distribute all his property equally in a WILL among his biological children and other orphans which could have annoyed whoever pulled the trigger to end his life.
“The plan was to kill him that very day because there was no time to wait since he was planning to leave home and sign the papers,” another relative said.
According to Naome, Katanga’s lawyer was aware of the death threats that his client was facing and his death did not surprise him that is why he(Katanga) was racing against time to finish the WILL which was never a success.
While as Katanga could have prepared and signed the will a little earlier, he was busy with arrangements for giveaway and wedding functions for his foster daughter Patricia alias Tricia for over two weeks.
Tricia is among the suspects, and she was remanded to Luzira prison on murder charges. At the time of the shooting, Tricia confirmed to police that she was present and revealed how her father and mother got a misunderstanding before she heard a gunshot.
While as Katanga’s family continue to purse justice for their relative, they recently revealed that Molly Katanga who is the prime suspect is not unwell as she claims but simply lodging at IHK to frustrate the court process.
The family further accused powerful government officials of allegedly helping the widow and her daughter in disguising the murder as a suicide case, tampering with CCTV footage as well as a scene of crime.
Katanga was one of the Ankole princes while his wife Molly is a relative and close confidant to key government and security officials who are allegedly trying to save her from facing murder charges. Watch the space…..
