Katanga’s lawyer asked to prove he is an enrolled advocate

Mrs Katanga following proceedings on zoom

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Ronald Mugabe Ruranga, a lawyer and farmer, took the stand as the sixth prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Molly Katanga, who is accused of murdering her husband, Henry Katanga Machwa.

The trial, presided over by Justice Isaac Muwata, continues to unfold at the Criminal Division of the High Court. The prosecution alleges that Molly Katanga murdered her husband on November 2, 2023, by shooting him at their home on Mbuya Chwa 2 Road in Nakawa Division, Kampala District.

Additionally, Katanga’s daughters, Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kankwanzi, along with their family shamba boy, George Amanyire, and a nursing officer, Charles Otai, are co-accused. They face charges related to tampering with evidence and aiding and abetting the crime. Mugabe, who has been a lawyer for 17 years, testified about his close friendship with the deceased, which spanned 17 years.

He revealed that he had worked with Henry Katanga on various legal matters, drafting sale agreements and effecting transfers on some of Katanga’s property titles.

Mugabe identified all the accused persons except Amanyire and Otai. “I have been a lawyer for 17 years and have had the pleasure of working with Katanga on various documents such as drafting his sale agreements and effecting transfers on some of his titles,” Mugabe stated.

He added that Katanga was a regular visitor to his office, located in the same building on Nkrumah Road, and they often had lunch together at 1 PM daily. Mugabe recalled their social outings and described Katanga as a gentleman with a distinctive dressing style who loved checked shirts. He emphasized Katanga’s cool-headed temperament despite being an armed man and praised his friend’s punctuality and meticulous record-keeping.

The witness also recounted the events leading up to Katanga’s death, including their last phone call on October 31, 2023. They had planned to meet on November 2, but Katanga was murdered before the meeting could take place. “At around midday, we received a call that Katanga was dead. I didn’t ask where he died; I just said okay and arranged for a second lock for his office for security reasons,” Mugabe testified.

He detailed the police investigation that followed, describing how they found documents, cheques, agreements, deposits, and 21 million Ugandan shillings in cash, along with other foreign currencies, in Katanga’s office. During cross-examination, defense lawyer Macdusman Kabega questioned Mugabe’s credentials, presenting a document that suggested Mugabe was not a practicing advocate.

He pressed on, suggesting that Mugabe was lying to the court and had no documents to prove his involvement in Katanga’s business dealings, which he described as criminal. Mugabe denied the allegation, asserting that he is indeed a practicing lawyer and explaining the discrepancy in his name on the list of enrolled advocates.

The defense team, comprised of Elison Karuhanga, Macdusman Kabega, Bruce Musinguzi, John Jet Tumwebaze, and Peter Kabatsi, represents all the accused persons. Former Deputy Attorney General Mwesigwa Rukutana, along with lawyers Edgar Ayebazibwe and Brian Rubaihayo, represents the interests of the deceased as watching briefs during the trial.

The trial is set to resume on August 20, 2024, with the seventh prosecution witness expected to testify following Justice Muwata’s return from his one-month annual leave.

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