Molly Katanga depleted Shs40 billion account after husband’s death, says state

The murder trial of businesswoman Molly Katanga took a dramatic turn of events Monday after the State accused her of withdrawing more than Shs40 billion from a Euro account belonging to her deceased husband, businessman Henry Katanga, even while she admitted at International Hospital Kampala (IHK) and later while on remand in Luzira Prison.

During the third day of her cross-examination before Justice Comfort Kania at the High Court in Kampala, Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwaganya argued that the businessman could not have taken his own life due to financial distress as stated by the widow because he possessed billions of shillings in savings, securities and investments.

The prosecution also intensified its claim that Ms Katanga had a financial motive to kill her husband in order to gain control of his wealth.

“My instructions are that you had the motivation to kill your husband for property,” Mr Muwaganya told court.

However, Ms Katanga refuted this claim.

“Which property? First of all, I did not kill my husband. If I had wanted, I could not have put him on the title and agreements of properties,” Ms Katanga responded.

The tense exchanges escalated when the prosecution introduced bank records relating to a Euro account allegedly operated by the accused.

Mr Muwaganya told court that by the time Henry Katanga died in November 2023, the account contained 8,863,313 Euros (approximately Shs40 billion).

“The total credit on the statement on the Euro account within the period and by the time your husband died he left 8,863,313 Euros. Confirm that you withdrew this money to zero to date,” Mr Muwaganya said.

Defence lawyer Erison Karuhanga immediately interjected, objecting to the line of questioning, but Justice Kania directed the witness to answer.

“I cannot answer from the document I do not know,” Ms Katanga replied.

Asked whether she had been the sole operator of the account, she replied in the affirmative.

Mr Muwaganya then pressed further: “Do you confirm that you withdrew the money from the Euro account?”

“I do not remember. I have been transacting to pay suppliers,” she responded.

The court heard that Ms Katanga continued making withdrawals from company and personal accounts while under incarceration at Luzira prison.

“Mum do you remember transacting while in Luzira?” Mr Muwaganya asked.

“Yes,” she replied.

“How have you been instructing the bank?”

“I have an arrangement with the bank which I can’t disclose now,” she said.

She also admitted making withdrawals to pay suppliers during her remand period.

The prosecution further challenged the defence narrative that Henry Katanga had been depressed over debts before his death.

Earlier in the trial, Ms Katanga suggested that her husband had financial pressures arising from loans and debts owed to various people.

However, Mr Muwaganya presented a list of savings, investments and accounts allegedly owned by the deceased, arguing that they contradicted claims of financial breakdown.

The court heard that Henry Katanga allegedly had Shs1.5 billion in UAP bank, Shs2.6 billion in ICEA accounts, Shs1 billion in UCCS Community SACCO savings, and another Shs400 million in a personal account at Baroda Bank.

The state also claimed the deceased held additional securities and bonds worth billions of shillings.

“That is the reason we say he cannot be depressed by a debt of Shs1 billion,” Mr Muwaganya told court.

Ms Katanga disagreed with the conclusion.

“Why do you say that? It is a debt,” she responded.

The prosecution also revisited evidence concerning Merge Uganda Limited, one of the companies linked to the couple, which allegedly dealt in classified government supplies.

Mr Muwaganya suggested the company handled firearms supplies to government agencies and questioned Ms Katanga about her earlier claims that she had never used a gun.

“You were presented in this court as someone who has never used a gun, even the simplest one,” he said.

“Ask the end user since they are classified supplies and I have never been trained in the use of a gun. You have never seen me holding a gun or shooting,” she replied.

The state additionally accused Mrs Katanga of fabricating medical documents used to support her bail application while she was admitted at IHK following her arrest.

“My instructions are that you fabricated a number of medical documents to support your bail application,” Mr Muwaganya said.

“I do not know,” Ms Katanga answered.

Under re-examination by defence lawyer MacDusman Kabega, Ms Katanga maintained that she had never been given an opportunity by investigators to fully explain her version of events before being charged with murder.

“The police never gave me the opportunity until I came to court,” she said.

She also denied allegations that she killed her husband because of property disputes.

“That is fake. It is not true I killed for property,” Ms Katanga told court.

The trial continues tomorrow with further re-examination by the defence.

Mr Katanga was found dead on November 2, 2023, at his home in Mbuya, Kampala.

His wife, Molly, is charged alongside their daughters, Martha Nkwanzi and Patricia Kakwanza, who face lesser counts of destroying evidence and being accessories after the fact.

Also charged are Charles Otai, a medic who was among the first to arrive at the scene, and George Amanyire, the shamba boy at the residence.