The Crimes Division of the High Court has denied bail to Molly Katanga, the widow of the late city businessman Henry Katanga.

Molly Katanga is accused of killing her husband, Henry Katanga. The businessman was allegedly shot dead by his wife on November 2, 2023, at their home in Mbuya, Nakawa Division, Kampala City.

Through her lawyers of Kampala Associated Advocates alongside Tumusiime and Kabega Company Advocates, Mrs. Katanga applied for bail following her committal to the High Court in February. 

She contended that she is of advanced age and requires specialized medical treatment after undergoing multiple surgeries on her head and her hands to address the injuries she sustained on the fateful day of her husband’s death.

She noted that she has a fixed place of residence in Mbuya, which is within the court’s area of jurisdiction. She also told the court that she is the sole breadwinner of her family and a mother of tender children, which requires her presence.

Appearing before High Court Judge Isaac Muwata, Mrs. Katanga was denied bail. He ruled that she is not too old to be in jail, and the medical officers at Luzira women’s prison have not informed the court that they have failed to manage her health.

“Since the matter has been fixed for hearing, it is better that the applicant prepare for trial,” he ruled.

Molly is charged alongside her two daughters, Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kakwanza; George Amanyire, a shamba boy; and Charles Otai, a health worker.

Nkwanzi and Kakwanza are accused of tampering with evidence at the crime scene, rendering it unidentifiable for judicial proceedings. Amanyire and Charles Otai, a health worker, are accused of assisting others involved in the crime.

The four were last month granted Shs2 million in cash bail, while their sureties were bonded at Shs20 million and ordered to surrender their passports.

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Ugandan Muslims and the entire world will celebrate the joyous occasion of Eid al-Fitr tomorrow on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, after the crescent moon was not sighted on Monday evening.

The announcement was made by the Uganda Muslim Supreme Council (UMSC) after the moon sighting committee reported negative results on Monday evening.

“After careful assessments and consultations with moon sighting committees throughout Uganda, it has been confirmed that the crescent moon has not been sighted this evening, therefore, Eid al-Fitr will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 10th,” Dr. Sheikh Ziyad Swaleh Lubanga, Director of Sharia at UMSC said in a brief statement to the Muslim community on Monday evening.

Sheikh Lubanga’s announcement came just hours after the World Muslim leadership in Saudi Arabia made a similar proclamation moments ago, urging believers to spend the remaining days of the auspicious month doing good deeds.

Eid al-Fitr, also known as the “Festival of Breaking the Fast,” is celebrated on the ninth day of Ramadan, the ninth month in the Islamic calendar. Ramadan is a time for fasting, prayer, and introspection.

On Wednesday morning, worshippers are expected to gather at various mosques around the nation for special Eid prayers, while families will prepare customary meals, exchange blessings, and spend time together.

This joyous occasion, marked by feasting, family reunions, and gift-giving, is always eagerly awaited by Muslims to mark the end of the Ramadan fasting period.

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Leader of Opposition in Parliament, Joel Ssenyonyi has criticized the government for proposing new taxes without showing any service delivery for the taxes collected, saying it is not right for the government to put a chokehold on the citizenry like the traders protesting downtown Kampala over high taxes, yet the money ends up being stolen by thieves of the regime.

Ssenyonyi made the remarks during the presentation of the Alternative National Budget Priorities for 2024/25 at Parliament where he urged the government to listen to the cries of the traders.

“It is no wonder that the government is proposing to increase taxes on certain commodities and services, which are further going to burden the population that is already not seeing adequate service delivery for the tax money that they pay currently. We need to save this money that is stolen by the thieves, so that we don’t need to dig deeper into the pockets of the struggling citizenry. And yet they see this money they pay in taxes being stolen, and that is why the traders are saying no and that is why we want to encourage them as citizens of this country to speak out,” said Ssenyonyi.

Joel Ssenyonyi said that the opposition’s alternative budget is more than a financial plan, but rather, a document that is intended to illustrate the Opposition’s commitment to strengthen communities through effective service delivery as well as paint a picture to Ugandans of what ought to be done for the country.

“The human right based approach that we have adopted informs the foundation of our alternative budget, demonstrating our consistent commitment to defending the basic freedoms and rights of every citizen in Uganda. We hope that by adopting this approach, the budget process will become an effective instrument for social justice and equitable development. Therefore, in order to ensure that no one is left behind, it is imperative that the government allocates resources in a manner that promotes accountability and transparency,” Ssenyonyi added.

Robert Kyagulanyi, Principal of National Unity Platform warned that as much as these alternative policies might be attractive, it would be impossible to achieve them if the leaders in charge of Ugandans resources can’t rise above their petty selfishness.

“We must resist, we must reject, in fact, we must eject all forms of corruption in public administration otherwise, all this will be going to waste and our resources will continue sinking down the long drain of personal greed at the expense of our collective wellbeing and, at the lives of our people and children. As a National Unity Platform, we shall continue taking decisive action in that regard,” said Kyagulanyi.

Miria Matembe urged MPs to stand firm by their beliefs and principles, saying when she opposed removal of term limits, she was thrown out of Gov’t without pension and gratuity.

“Have you ever seen me shaken by anybody? I worked for a good 30 years for this country but when I said no, you can’t remove the term limits, I was thrown in the garbage. No pension, no gratuity. I don’t tell you to accuse those people, but I tell you how those people can rob you. I was robbed. Have you seen me lacking? But I continue to serve for a legacy that when I am long gone, and when you stand with the people of Uganda, God will stand with you,” said Matembe.

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The Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces 3 Division Commander, Major General Don William Nabasa, has implored the Jie and Dodoth communities of Kotido and Kaabong districts, respectively, in North Karamoja, to explore the formation of a meaningful and peaceful alliance to combat cattle theft and reduce tension.

Maj Gen Nabasa made remarks yesterday (Saturday, April 6) during an inter-district security community meeting held at Moruitit village, Sidok Sub-County in Kaabong district. 

“I implore the two communities to form a peaceful alliance to foster brotherhood, reduce counter-accusations and curb cattle theft in your locations,” Maj Gen Nabasa said.

The 3 Division Commander observed that the sub-region continues to witness relative peace with adherence to the existing Presidential Amnesty window, despite the accusations and counter-accusations between the Jie and Dodoth communities that prompted an inter-district security meeting in Moruitit in Sidok Sub County, Kaabong district.

Maj Gen Nabasa stressed that the Turkana pastoralists factor is being addressed to maintain relative peace along the Uganda-Kenya borderline.

He urged the local leaders to cooperate closely with the UPDF’s 405 Brigade Commander. He tasked Battalion Commanders to identify the reformed warriors who would be able to work alongside security forces.

He underscored that reformed warriors know the terrain, routes, hideouts and their networks and, therefore, can be used to curb criminality in Northern Karamoja.

Capt (Rtd) Chris Mike Okirya, the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) for Kaabong, appealed to communities and rustlers still possessing guns to peacefully hand them over to security to become beneficiaries of government incentives and services.

On their part, the two district Chairpersons, Hon. Meri Jino (Kaabong) and Hon Lotee Paul, known as Kacheri Boy (Kotido), agreed to spearhead the drilling of three boreholes along borderlines to solve water scarcity and facilitate deployment along the Uganda- Kenya board line.

Ms. Judith Nakut, the Karacuna mobiliser, pledged to intensify the mobilisation of targeted groups to voluntarily surrender illegal firearms, noting that some Karacuna had fled to the wilderness due to conflicts between the Jie and Dodoth communities.

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Geraldine Ssali, the estranged Ministry of Trade and Co-operative Permanent Secretary has been dragged to police by a senior lawyer in the same ministry after she reported slapped her.

Ssali who is not new to controversy has been dragged together with her bodyguard. The incident took place on Friday evening at the Ministry headquarters and has since been reported at Central Police Station.

Sandra Aneno, the senior lawyer is said to have been assaulted confirmed the incident to the New Vision saying “I reported the matter on fiday evening and I was given medical forms to go the police doctor for examination. I have also been to my doctor at Bugolobi for a scan. My back was paining and I couldn’t bend and they did some physiotherapy on it. They gave me some medicine “she is quoted.

After assaulting Ms Aneno, Ssali on the same day went ahead to draft an interdiction letter suspending her from duty.

“As you are well aware, this afternoon in the execution of my normal duties as a Permanent Secretary and Accounting Officer and while issuing you with instructions, you exhibited grass unbecoming behavior such as abusive language against me, assaulting, threatening me, throwing items at me and insubordination which is irregular for a public officer of your caliber. Your actions were in total disregard of the provisions of the Uganda Public Service Standing Orders 2021 section F-r Para-1. As laid out in section F-r Para in 4 and 5 (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (i), (k), (t) and 7 (a) those actions constitute to gross misconduct” Ssali wrote.

She further continued “You are hence forth interdicted from duty with immediate effect in accordance with sec-F-S para 14 of the Uganda Public Service Standing Order 2021. While on interdiction you will;

• Receive half of your basic salary for the period under interdiction
• You shall not leave the country without express permission from the responsible officer
• Handover your office and you will not appear in the office premises except if required on matters relating to the case of which you have been interdicted for. In the same reference, you are required to show cause why institutions of disciplinary actions should not be taken against you, this should reach my office with seven working days in any case not later than April 16, 2024”

Ms Ssali is not new to bad working ethics as this incident isn’t the first, she first hit the scene who she clashed with her boss then Mr Richard Byarugaba at National Social Security Fund (NSSF). Lately reports allege that she has been on bad terms with ministers at the Ministry of Trade. Her husband has also been mentioned to have received compensation money meant for co-oporatives.

In October last, she was dropped by the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the treasury Ramathan Ggoobi after a report by Parliament trade committee endorsed her suspension over fraud and irregularities that were committed at the ministry on her watch.

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