Police forward Katanga's murder file to DPP for advice as new details emerge

The complex murder file of businessman Henry Katanga has been submitted to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to determine the fate of his wife Molly Katanga, daughter Tricia Katanga, and male house helper.

Katanga was shot dead inside his master bedroom on November 1 at Mbuya Hill in Kampala. Police detectives have attributed his death to a domestic quarrel with his wife Molly which resulted in the fatal shooting.

Katanga was reportedly involved in transactions with vital government institutions such as the ministry of Defence. Ballistic experts confirmed that he was indeed shot in the head using a pistol reg no. UG 1622200061CZ99. 

The findings have been shared with detectives from CID, where a decision has been made to seek the DPP’s advice on the appropriate charges to prefer against the key suspects. Although police spokesperson, Fred Enanga confirmed that police experts are now waiting for the DPP’s guidance, he did not disclose details about the suspects in the file. 

However, it has been established that the file lists Molly, her daughter Tricia Katanga, and a male house helper as key suspects in the murder. Enanga confirmed that some suspects have been arrested, while others have been turned into witnesses.

Reports suggest that Molly was found unconscious inside the master bedroom and was taken to the International Hospital Kampala (IHK), where she is still receiving treatment. Allegedly, Tricia and the male house helper pulled Katanga’s body from the master bedroom, where he was shot dead, and placed it on a mattress in the sitting room.

“Tricia was at home when this trouble happened. She is the one who called her other sister to rush home after the shooting. There were attempts to erase evidence, a reason the body was removed from the murder scene to the living room,” sources said.

Katanga’s murder was first reported to Peter Ogwang, the officer in charge of Bugolobi police station, who later alerted Jinja Road Main station. Police officials, led by deputy inspector general of police Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi Tumusiime and Kampala metropolitan police commander Stephen Tanui, reportedly rushed to the scene.

The deceased’s other daughter and Dr Charles Otai have since turned into witnesses. It has emerged that Dr Otai was called to offer first aid after the shooting with the hope of saving Katanga’s life in vain. Police, working with the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), reportedly arrested Dr Otai and the male house helper but later handed them to the police, who are keeping them at the former Special Investigation Unit (SIU) Kireka, currently occupied by the Flying Squad Unit and Crime Intelligence.

Katanga’s murder is becoming complicated as some claim he committed suicide after a heated argument with his wife, Molly while others insist it was the latter who pulled the trigger, ending the former’s life. There have been others who have pointed fingers at Tricia. Media reports indicate that Katanga was one of the surviving princes of the disbanded Ankole kingdom, born in the Rubindi sub-county, Mbarara district. 

If it turns out that Katanga was killed by his wife Molly, it will be another complex murder, akin to that of Jacqueline Uwera Nsenga, whose prosecution in the murder of her husband Juvenal Nsenga attracted the interests of prominent figures. Although Uwera was sentenced to a 20-year jail term in 2014, many homicide detectives describe it as one of the cases where they received orders from various individuals attempting to shield her from facing justice.