KAMPALA – The Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Samali Wakoli has been permitted to continue prosecuting Molly Katanga, despite allegations of bias and conflict of interest raised by the defense team.
Wakoli’s involvement in preparing the summary of evidence, including a DNA report, was deemed a clear conflict of interest by the defense lawyers.
The defense argued that Wakoli’s bias and conflict of interest compromised her impartiality as a prosecutor, contrary to the constitutional provisions.
The defense team, led by Peter Kabatsi, had requested that Wakoli be made a witness, arguing that she prepared and signed the summary of evidence, which contained the DNA report.
They claimed that the DNA report was not ready when Wakoli prepared the summary of the case. Other defense lawyers include MacDosman Kabega, Jet Tumwebaze, Bruce Musinguzi, and Elison Karuhanga.
“The indictment references the DNA report and tampered closed-circuit television footage, indicating prosecutorial bias and fallacy in the case,” defence lawyer Musinguzi stated.
The court heard that Molly’s DNA was found to be the most predominant on the killer pistol.
However, Mr Katanga’s DNA was over 80 percent on the barrow.
However, High Court Judge Isaac Muwata ruled on Monday, July 9 that Wakoli’s role was limited to guiding on the evidence required, and a competent DNA expert will testify regarding the report.
Molly Katanga is on trial for murder in the death of her husband, Henry Katanga, a renowned businessman who succumbed to a gunshot wound on November 2, 2023, at their Kampala residence.
Her co-accused include George Amanyire, a domestic worker, Charles Otai, a medic, and her two daughters, Patricia Kakwanza and Martha Nkwanzi, who are accused of destroying evidence and being accessories to the murder.
The offense of murder carries a maximum sentence of death upon conviction, while destroying evidence and being an accessory to murder each carries a seven-year jail term.
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