The High Court in Kampala has granted a cash bail of 2 million shillings each to the daughters of the late Henry Katanga and two other suspects.
They were charged with destroying evidence in their father’s murder case on November 2, 2023, and had been remanded to Luzira. The court also set February 21st, 2024, as the date to decide on the bail application of four suspects implicated in businessman Henry Katanga’s murder.
During the bail ruling before Judge Isaac Muwata, the accused were granted bail with their surieties bonded at 20 million shillings each. Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kankwanzi, along with George Amanyire and Charles Otai, appeared in court for the ruling.
The sisters provided sureties, including their husbands, family members, and colleagues, while Otai and Amanyire presented their wives, relatives, and acquaintances.
Kankwanzi cited health issues, including hypertension and obesity, as grounds for her bail request, while Nkwanzi mentioned being a new mother needing to care for her breastfeeding baby.
Their lawyer, John Karuhanga, expressed relief at the judge’s decision, stating that it marked the end of a prolonged legal process.
“This application is the most adjourned bail application in the history of Uganda. It has been adjourned 15 times. We are happy with the judge that the accused have finally gotten bail.” he said
He accused the State of coercing one of the co-accused, Amanyire, to change his statements against his colleagues. Karuhanga alleged that the Chief State Attorney, Muwaganya Jonathan, influenced Amanyire’s transfer from Luzira to Kigo prison and subsequently pressured him to alter his testimony.
“We are dismayed by the practice of the DPP. You cant change after charging someone and committing them to high court for trial, then shift him tfrom Luzira to Kigo and later coerce him into changing statements to turn against his co-accused” he stated
Last week while submitting on bail, the State argued that the sureties presented were unknown to the local council and were introduced by a questionable source.
However, they emphasized the seriousness of the case and proposed stringent guidelines for bail, including the submission of land titles, national passports, and a substantial bond commitment from the sureties.
Despite the State’s objections, the court granted bail to the accused with the specified conditions.
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