KAMPALA, Uganda — The murder trial of Molly Katanga, accused of killing her husband, businessman Henry Katanga, continued in High Court today with defense lawyers challenging a journalist witness over the translation of crucial evidence.
The witness, a journalist, was cross-examined on her transcription and translation of two flash drives containing crime scene footage. The videos reportedly show Jinja Road Police Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) officer Bibiana Akongo interrogating Katanga’s daughter, Patricia Kakwanza, and nursing officer Charles Otai. Kakwanza and Otai are also accused of destroying evidence and being accessories to murder, along with Katanga’s other daughter, Martha Nkwanzi, and domestic worker George Amanyire.
The proceedings took place before Justice Rosette Comfort Kania of the High Court’s Criminal Division. Molly Katanga participated via audio-video link from Luzira Prisons, while the other accused appeared physically in court.
Defense lawyer Jet Tumwebaze pressed the witness on discrepancies between the original Rutooro audio and the English translation, particularly regarding references to keys and a bedroom. Tumwebaze highlighted a segment where the translation indicated “keys to the bedroom” and implied the bedroom was locked, while he argued the video suggested “keys to the car.”
“Is this translation born out of the other Rutooro because here we are talking about keys and here you have introduced the key to the bedroom?” Tumwebaze questioned the witness.
The judge, Justice Kania, sought clarification on the specific wording. Tumwebaze contended that the Rutooro term “ebisumuruzo” literally means “many keys” and that the video context suggested car keys, not a single key to a locked bedroom, as the translation implied.
Prosecutors Samali Wakooli, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, and Chief State Attorneys Jonathan Muwaganya and Anna Kiiza represented the state. The defense team includes Peter Kabatsi, MacDosman Kabega, Elison Karuhanga and Jet Tumwebaze.
The trial included playing video clips multiple times to clarify the disputed translations. Despite repeated listening, the defense continued to challenge the accuracy of the witness’s interpretation of phrases related to the keys and the bedroom.
“Is that what you are reading or what you have heard? Because we told you to listen,” Tumwebaze pressed the witness at one point, suggesting she was relying on the written transcription rather than the audio.
Justice Kania observed the witness had “consistently said that it is the key to the bedroom.” Defense lawyer MacDosman Kabega eventually requested that the transcript be removed from the witness to ensure she relied solely on listening to the video.
Henry Katanga died from a gunshot wound to the head on Nov. 2, 2023, at his residence in Mbuya Chwa II Road, Kampala.
