Relatives of Henry Katanga Seek Inquest into Questionable Death

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Two relatives of Henry Katanga, a prominent citizen who died under suspicious circumstances, have requested an inquest into his death. The deceased’s uncle, Brig Freddie Karara Machwa, and brother-in-law, Mr Barnabas Taremwa, have raised several concerns in an application filed at the Civil Division of the High Court in Kampala on November 16.

One of the main arguments put forward by the petitioners is that the claim that Katanga committed suicide is questionable. They point out that Katanga was right-handed, yet the fatal bullet entered his left ear, suggesting that someone else may have been involved in his death. The petitioners believe that an inquest will reveal the identity of the person or persons responsible for killing their loved one.

The circumstances surrounding Katanga’s death have raised concerns about the involvement of state and military power. Taremwa, the deceased’s brother-in-law, is the brother of Jovia Saleh, the wife of Gen Salim Saleh, who is the brother of the President. Machwa, the uncle of the deceased, is a one-star general of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF). The individuals that the petitioners want to be summoned as witnesses in the inquest reveal the complex web of family relations and their connections to positions of power within the state and military.

Among the individuals named in the application as potential witnesses are Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi, a relative of the late Katanga and the current deputy inspector general of police; Brig Gen Charity Bainababo, the deputy commander of the Special Forces Command (SFC) and the deceased’s cousin; and Maj Gen Sam Kavuma, the deputy national coordinator of Operation Wealth Creation (OWC) and former Aide-de-Camp to President Museveni. Lt Gen James Mugira, the current managing director of UPDF’s business arm, the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC), and a former Chief of Military Intelligence, is also listed as a potential witness.

The petitioners also want State Minister for Animal Industry, Maj Bright Rwamirama, an uncle of the deceased, and Mr Geoffrey Kamuntu, a cousin of the widow, to be summoned as witnesses. Kamuntu is a former son-in-law to the President. Other individuals listed include Maj Gen (rtd) Emmanuel Burundi, a cousin of the widow and their neighbor in Mbuya, as well as Ms Naome Katafire, a childhood friend of Molly, the widow, and her current caretaker at the hospital. Housemaid Evelyn Nantume and house-help George Amanyire are also mentioned as individuals with potential knowledge of the events leading up to Katanga’s death.

The application highlights several unusual circumstances surrounding Katanga’s death, such as the significant financial transactions conducted by his daughter at a bank while his body was still in the house. The petitioners also question the silence of certain individuals who may have had firsthand knowledge of the events leading to Katanga’s death.

If the request for an inquest is granted, each of the named individuals will likely be called to testify and provide information to the judicial inquiry. It is important to note that there is currently no evidence of wrongdoing by any of the individuals mentioned.

An inquest is a formal public judicial inquiry that aims to establish the accurate facts surrounding a person’s death. It is not a trial and does not determine blame or liability. The purpose of an inquest is to gather information and uncover the truth about how a person died. The petitioners in this case are represented by lawyers Frank Kanduho and Paul Kuteesa of Kanduho & Co. Advocates and Arcadia Advocates, respectively. They will rely on the affidavit of Noami Kashashani, the deceased’s sister, to support their case.

Overall, the application for an inquest into Henry Katanga’s death sheds light on the complex and interconnected relationships between powerful individuals in the state and military. The petitioners hope that an inquest will reveal the truth behind the suspicious circumstances surrounding Katanga’s demise..