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KAMPALA – The prosecution’s case against Molly Katanga suffered a major blow on Wednesday, July 10, as the third witness, Police Officer ASP Peter Ogwang, changed his account of the November 2, 2023 incident.
Chief prosecutor Samali Wakooli had called Ogwang, the officer-in-charge of Buglobi police station, to testify against Mrs Katanga, but defence lawyers pointed out that the witness’ inconsistencies and omissions cast doubt on his credibility and the reliability of his testimony.
Ogwan testified that he received a call from Dr. Otey informing him that someone had shot himself at the scene, and he also said that Patricia, who was present at the time, wanted to report the incident as an accident.
However, under cross-examination by defence lawyer MacDosman Kabega, Okuang refuted his earlier statement, saying he did not record Patricia’s statement about reporting the incident as an accident in his initial statement.
Kabega pressed Okuang to explain the discrepancy and the witness admitted that he might have forgotten to record some details.
“I received a call from Dr. Otay informing me that someone had shot himself at the scene,” Owang initially testified. However, under cross-examination by defense attorney Kabega, Owang rebutted his earlier statement, saying “Patricia’s statement about reporting the incident as an accident was not recorded in my initial statement.”
Kabega noted that Ogwang’s statement, made two days after the incident, omitted crucial information, including whether Martha Kakwanza was present at the scene.
The changes in the witnesses’ testimonies cast doubt on the prosecution’s case and could undermine the prosecution’s case against Katanga. “The witnesses’ testimonies are unreliable,” Kabega argued. “They changed their testimonies several times and their statements are full of contradictions.”
Changes in the witness’s testimony cast doubt on the credibility of his testimony and the investigation. The defense team pointed to these inconsistencies to prove that the witness was not credible.
Ogwang said that on the tragic day of November 2, 2023, at about 9 am, he received a call from Dr. Charles Otai, who informed him that a suicide shooting had occurred in a residence in Mbuya and the police needed to take over.
Ogwang told the court that he arrived at the house and found the police liaison officer, Samuel Musede, guarding the scene.
He found Henry Katanga’s body lying on a new mattress covered with a sheet. He also found a lot of blood in the room and a black pistol on the bed.
Ogwang said he called Superintendent Bibian Akong, who arrived at the residence with a team of homicide officers, including a crime scene investigator.
However, during the cross-examination, it was confirmed that some of his oral testimonies were not included in the written statement recorded on November 6, 2023.
The presiding judge, Isaac Muwata, allowed the witness’ police statement to be admitted as defence exhibit D3, which could weaken the prosecution’s case.
However, the prosecution insisted that the witnesses’ statements were true and any discrepancies were minor.
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