KAMPALA, Uganda — A senior police medical officer has told the High Court that Molly Katanga, who is currently on trial for the alleged murder of her husband, had injuries that appear to be consistent with self-defense.
Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, Director of the Health Services Directorate in the Uganda Police Force, appeared as the 22nd prosecution witness on Monday. He testified that when he examined Katanga on November 8, 2023, she had multiple stitched wounds on her head and hands, which he described as “defensive injuries” typically sustained while trying to fend off an attack.
“These types of injuries occur when a person instinctively protects themselves from harm,” Dr. Byaruhanga told Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, adding that his findings were based on a physical examination conducted while Katanga was recovering at International Hospital Kampala.
According to the police surgeon, he was asked by investigators from Jinja Road Police Station to assess Katanga’s injuries following an alleged violent altercation with her husband, Henry Katanga, a well-known businessman. Henry died on November 2, 2023, from a gunshot wound to the head during what authorities describe as a domestic fight.
When questioned about what might have caused Katanga’s wounds, Dr. Byaruhanga said they could have resulted from a blunt object, such as a stick or baton. However, he clarified that his findings would need to be considered alongside evidence from the crime scene to draw any firm conclusions.
He also confirmed that Katanga was conscious during the medical examination and was accompanied by family members, including a relative and a former first son-in-law.
Molly Katanga is facing charges of murder, while her daughters, Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kakwanza, are charged with tampering with evidence and being accessories after the fact. Two other individuals — Charles Otai, a medic, and George Amanyire, a domestic worker — are also implicated in the case.