The Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has filed an application in the High Court challenging the decision of the Nakawa Chief Magistrates Court to handle plea-taking of suspects charged with minor offenses combined with capital offenses on the same charge sheet related to the murder of businessman Henry Katanga.
The DPP is seeking a ruling on whether suspects charged with minor offenses can be handled by magistrates’ courts when they are combined with capital offenses on the same charge sheet. The DPP contends that the charges against the four suspects, including Patricia Kakwenza (Katanga’s daughter), Dr. Charles Otai, George Amanyire, and Martha Nkwanzi Katanga, are contributory and interconnected to the murder charge, and thus, should be tried in the same court.
The suspects are accused of destroying evidence and being accessories after the fact of murder. The DPP argues that all the counts in the charge sheet, including the murder charge, should be tried in the same court.
The state alleges that on November 2, 2023, at Mbuya, Chwa 2, in Nakawa Division, Molly Katanga, the wife of the deceased, killed her husband with malice aforethought. The four suspects are accused of being involved in destroying evidence or assisting individuals liable for offenses related to the murder.
The DPP sought an adjournment during the hearing, citing the prosecutor’s unavailability, who was reportedly engaged in a criminal session at Mukono court. The court agreed to the adjournment and set a new hearing date for January 23.
The ruling date for the DPP’s application is yet to be set, and the court is scheduled to hear the bail application for the suspects on Wednesday.
