The prosecution in the trial of Molly Katanga has begun its cross-examination, challenging her account of the events surrounding the death of Henry Katanga, a Kampala businessman, in November 2023.
During proceedings before the High Court, prosecutors questioned Katanga’s assertion that stress stemming from her husband’s money-lending business triggered a mental breakdown that led to the fatal incident.
Led by Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya, the prosecution argued that although Henry Katanga had outstanding debts from several clients, this alone could not justify the alleged mental state described by the accused.
Particular attention was drawn to a debt; earlier mentioned by Molly Katanga, owed by the late businessman Apollo Nyegamehe, also known as Aponye.
The court heard that despite his death, his estate continued to honour the obligation, with bank records indicating that about 157 million shillings had been paid in instalments over several months.
The total debt is reported to have stood at at least one billion shillings.
Prosecutors used this evidence to counter Katanga’s earlier testimony, in which she attributed her husband’s alleged distress to persistent stress because of defaulters.
Whether the gradual repayment of part of the loan after Aponye’s death is sufficient to negate claims of a mental breakdown remains to be seen.
The state also pointed to alleged inconsistencies in Katanga’s account of the events on the day of the incident.
While she maintains that she was violently assaulted by her husband and sustained injuries that impaired her mobility, including fractured hands and arms, prosecutors questioned how she was able to move and open a door under such conditions.
In response, Katanga told the court that the door in question had already been opened and that she only used her elbows to widen it.
The prosecution further questioned how Katanga could have crawled out with fractured limbs, based on her earlier testimony, to which she replied that in such a difficult situation, anything is possible in an effort to seek help.
“When you are in the position I was, you would also crawl. I don’t know how I crawled, but I did,” Molly Katanga said.
Molly Katanga is jointly charged with her daughters, Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kakwanzi, as well as their shamba boy, George Amanyire, and nursing officer, Charles Otai.
The High Court has ruled that all five accused persons have a case to answer and has directed them to present their defence.
Court has adjourned the trial to April 14 as the defence continues to present more witnesses.
