Lydia Draru, the lady who confessed to have killed former Army Commander Maj.Gen. James Kazini is out of prison.
Eagle Online can authoritatively reveal that Ms Draru served her sentenced of 14 years. High Court convicted Draru for manslaughter and sentenced her to 14 years in prison for killing Gen.Kazini
During sentencing, Justice Monica Mugenyi acquitted Draru of the charge of murder, and instead found her guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter. The maximum sentence for manslaughter is life imprisonment.
The judge then agreed with Draru and her lawyers Annet Mutabingwa and Musa Sembajja, who maintained throughout the trial that she did not intend to kill Kazini but acted in self-defence. Draru repeatedly hit Kazini with an iron bar.
On November 10, 2009 Gen. Kazini was found dead in a pool of blood at Namuwongo Project Zone, Wabigalo in Makindye Division, Kampala.
Draru was a girlfriend to the former army commander, and admitted having killed him.
Draru had served two years on remand by the time of sentencing her to 14 years. Draru was released few months ago and she is reported to be in Kampala engaged in business.
When contacted for a comment over the matter by Eagle Online, Uganda Prisons Service Spokesperson, Frank Baine confirmed the release of Draru.” yes it is true, she is out. She served her sentence” Mr Baine said.
Maj Gen James Kazini, 52, had been hit with a metal pipe on the head and collapsed dead in the doorway. After realising the enormity of her act, a confused 28-year-old Draru dashed out of the house, wailing: “I have killed him! I have killed him! I have killed Kazini, call the police!”
Boda boda riders at a stage outside her house in Namuwongo Project Zone in Makindye Division thought Draru had run amok while others thought she was intoxicated.
But the boda boda riders who rushed to her house were shocked to find a body of a man sprawled in Draru’s sitting room.
The boda boda riders called 999, which call was received at Central Police Station (CPS), Kampala, who in turn informed the police at Kisugu Police Post in Namuwongo. Police rushed to the scene and quickly cordoned off the house and locked the gate as an inquisitive crowd gathered outside.
At the scene, the officer in-charge of Kisugu quickly moved Ms Draru and her cousin Proscovia Tobaru, who had witnessed the scuffle, from the scene to the safety of the police post.
