Molly Katanga has begun her defence before the High Court, denying allegations that she murdered her husband, Henry Katanga, in 2023.
Appearing before justice Rosette Comfort Kania today Thursday, Molly told court that her husband had been battling stress and depression linked to his money-lending business, where several clients had allegedly defaulted on loans.
She cited the late businessman Apollo Nyegamehe, commonly known as Aponye, who died in a road accident in Ntungamo in July 2023 before clearing an alleged debt of about Shs 1.5 billion.
“The issue was always on his mind and nerves,” Molly told court.
She was led in her defence by lawyer Peter Kabatsi, alongside Macdusman Kabega, John Jet Tumwebaze and Elison Karuhanga. Her testimony comes more than a month after the court ruled that she and four co-accused had a case to answer in connection with the fatal shooting of her husband at their home on Chwa II Road in Mbuya, Nakawa Division.
In that ruling, Justice Kania held that the prosecution had presented sufficient circumstantial evidence pointing to malice aforethought, relying on the doctrine of “last seen,” noting that the deceased and his wife were the only people in the bedroom at the time of the shooting.
The prosecution also accuses Katanga’s two daughters, a shamba boy, George Amanyire, and a nursing officer, Charles Otai, of acting as accessories after the fact by allegedly tampering with evidence and attempting to conceal the circumstances of death.
However, while taking the stand, Molly rejected the allegations and maintained her innocence.
“I didn’t kill my husband,” she said, adding that she does not know how to use a gun. She described their 32-year marriage as peaceful and said they had four children — Patricia Kankwanza, Martha Katanga, Arthur Katanga and Siima Katanga.
She portrayed her husband as a reserved individual. Molly told court that on November 1, 2023, her husband returned home after jogging, had dinner, helped their son with homework and later went to rest.
She said that the following morning, he appeared stressed and discussed business challenges, including plans to take Shs 210 million to the bank. According to her testimony, she later went to the prayer room for about an hour before returning to the bedroom.
“He came and started beating me,” she said, adding that he followed her to the bathroom and assaulted her using a baton.
She told court that she was repeatedly beaten, forced against a door and struck with a metal bolt, leaving her severely injured and unable to stand. Molly said her husband later called out to her three times in Runyankore, saying “Yimuka,” asking her to stand up, but she was too weak to respond. She then heard him say he was going to kill himself.
“I heard a loud bang. I knew he had a gun. After that, there was silence,” she testified.
She said she later crawled out in search of water while bleeding heavily and sustained serious injuries. She told court she continues to suffer from complications, including headaches, dizziness, high blood pressure and difficulty walking.
Molly said she was first taken to a clinic on Kampala Road, then transferred to a facility in Bugolobi and later admitted to International Hospital Kampala, where she underwent surgery on her head, arms and hands.
After her testimony, the prosecution team, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Samalie Wakhooli and chief state attorneys; Jonathan Muwaganya and Ann Kizza, requested more time to prepare for cross-examination.
The case was adjourned to April 2, 2026. Former deputy attorney general Mwesigwa Rukutana and lawyer Edgar Ayebazibwe are representing the interests of the deceased’s family on a watching brief.
Unlike previous sessions where she appeared via video link from Luzira Prison, Molly was physically present in court and was assisted to walk by prison warders. She was later remanded back to Luzira Prison as the trial continues.
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