Molly Katanga Rejects Murder Charge, Insists Husband Henry Committed Suicide in Court Testimony

Molly Katanga began her defense in the High Court before Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, firmly denying accusations of murdering her husband, businessman Henry Katanga, in November 2023 at their Mbuya home.

Guided by lawyers including Peter Kabatsi, she attributed Henry’s distress to his money-lending business, where clients like the late Apollo Nyegamehe defaulted on massive loans, such as Shs 1.5 billion, weighing heavily on his mind.

Katanga described their 32-year marriage as harmonious, with four children. On November 1, Henry jogged, dined, helped their son with homework, and retired. The next morning, he seemed stressed over business woes, planning a Shs 210 million bank deposit.

After prayer, around 6:00 am, Henry allegedly turned violent in the bathroom, beating her with a baton and metal bolt, leaving her gravely injured. He called out in Runyankore for her to rise but, getting no response, declared he would kill himself. She heard a gunshot and silence.

Bleeding profusely, Molly crawled for water, suffering lasting issues like headaches, dizziness, hypertension, and mobility problems. She was treated at clinics on Kampala Road, Bugolobi, and International Hospital Kampala, showing scars from surgeries.

She rejected forensic claims of gunshot residue and her DNA on his pistol, insisting she cannot use guns, and explained delays in police statements due to her bandaged hands and condition under guard.

This follows the court’s finding of a case to answer for her and four others—two daughters, shamba boy George Amanyire, and nurse Charles Otai—based on ‘last seen’ doctrine, crime scene interference, and suspicious post-incident behavior.

Prosecutors, led by Samalie Wakhooli, sought time for cross-examination. The case resumes April 2, 2026. Molly, appearing in person aided by warders unlike prior video links, was remanded to Luzira Prison.

Source: The Observer (Uganda)