By Spy Uganda
Kampala: The Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court has issued an arrest warrant against late Katanga’s daughter, Martha Nkwanzi, one of the key suspects in the ongoing investigation into the gruesome murder of Henry Katanga on November 2, 2023.
The warrant issued on Monday by Magistrate Erias Kakooza was granted following a successful application by prosecution led by State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya.
The charges against Martha Nkwanzi center around tampering with evidence in connection to the death of her father, Henry Katanga.
According to Prosecution, on November 2, 2023 at Mbuya, Chwa 2 in Nakawa Division, Molly Katanga (widow) allegedly killed her husband following an alleged misunderstanding.
Kakooza also extended criminal summons against the widow, Molly Katanga who’s said to be still recovering from the injuries sustained during the scuffle that claimed her husbands’ life.
During the court proceedings, lawyers representing the defendants, including MacDusman Kabega, Jet Tumwebaze, and Bruce Musinguzi, argued that Molly Katanga was unable to attend court due to ongoing recovery from injuries and emphasized that she had recently undergone surgery, rendering her incapable of standing trial, as earlier ordered by the court.
However, Muwaganya contested the claims noting that both Molly Katanga and Martha Nkwanzi had failed to respond to earlier court summons. Muwaganya argued that Nkwanzi, contrary to the medical report presented by the defense, was not hospitalized but rather at home prompting Kakooza to ultimately agree with the prosecution, leading to the issuance of the arrest warrant against Nkwanzi.
“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.
“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.
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The case has been adjourned to January 22 for mention.
Meanwhile, the same court declined to hear the bail application for three additional suspects implicated in the murder case. The suspects including one of Katanga’s daughters, Patricia Kakwanza Dr. Charles Otai, and George Amanyire, a domestic worker at the deceased’s home, currently remain on remand.
Prosecution alleges that Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kakwanza knowingly tampered with the crime scene, removing or destroying evidence to prevent its use in court. Dr. Otai and Amanyire are accused of receiving or assisting others with the knowledge that these individuals were liable for an offense, in an attempt to enable them to escape punishment.
As the legal proceedings unfold, Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court remains at the center of a complex and high-profile case that continues to grip the public’s attention.
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 offenses.
Here Is A Pictorial From Nakawa Magistrate Court During The Proceedings
