Crime Xclusive: On 2nd November 2023, a chilling call reached Detective SP Bibiana Akongo, then Divisional CID Officer at Jinja Road and a seasoned investigator with eleven years in the Uganda Police Force. At the time, she was in Kinawataka when Detective Ronah phoned from Bugolobi, alerting her to a suspected suicide at Plot 50, Chwa II Road, Mbuya Hill in Nakawa Division.
Moments later, she received another call from another junior, Detective IP Emmanuel Ogwang, already stationed at the scene, urging her to join in immediately. When Akongo arrived at around 10 a.m., she found Ogwang with a few officers and three individuals namely; Patricia Kakwanza, George Amanyire, and Charles Otai. Ogwang, after a preliminary look, whispered the unthinkable! “This is no suicide. It’s homicide.” Patricia, however, pressed him to report the incident as an accident. He refused.
The First Encounters
At the trial before Lady Justice Rosette Comfort Kania, Detective Akongo is the latest witness and, in these lines is a story of how she narrated the same to court. Back at the scene, Akongo introduced herself with authority, approached Patricia for guidance to the crime scene. Patricia referred her to Amanyire, who in turn pointed her toward Otai, a nurse at Bugoloobi Medical Center who, eventually directed her to the bedroom.
When questioned, Charles Otai gave his version, saying Henry Katanga had shot himself. He further claimed that Henry’s wife, Molly Katanga was away at State House for work. Otai continued to report that upon hearing the news of her husband`s supposed sucide, Mollyreportedly collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.
Inside the Master Bedroom
The bedroom door was locked, key inserted from the outside. At Akongo’s instruction, Otai opened it. Inside, she found a small mattress near the door, with a human body shrouded in a bedcover. She observed the deceased, Henry Katanga`s hands were bound to his torso, legs tied, and head secured. The main bed, was soaked with blood and a pistol that was carelessly placed at the bed’s edge.
Looking at the scene, Akongo developed suspicions that led to more questions. When she asked Otai to explain more, his story shifted. He now claimed that he found Katanga already dead with Patricia and Martha Nkwanza in the room. When he asked where the pistol was, Patricia allegedly told him she had hidden it in another room. On his insistence, she returned it to the bedroom!
For Akongo, the evidence was stark; On the floor was an intact live bullet. “An automatic pistol cannot eject a live bullet unless deliberately chambered, suggesting tampering,” she testified. Again, the bullet that struck Katanga was never recovered, though deformed fragments should have existed if it hit a hard surface. “This was no suicide—it was homicide.”
Calling Reinforcements
Akongo approached her supervisor, SSP Bob Kagarura and a one Mr. Okurut, briefing them and requesting for a backup. She also escalated to the chain of command at SOCO. Meanwhile, she secured a key witness, a one Nantume, the family cleaner. Nantume revealed she had been summoned the previous day by Molly Katanga, who asked her to return on the very morning of the murder to help with cleaning.
When backup arrived, Kagarura, Okurut, and Mbabazi deepened the investigation. As Bibiana led them around the scene, Kagarura revealed a shocking twist! He had personally overheard Otai and Patricia conspiring to align their stories. Confronted, Otai faltered, now offering a third version.
In his revised account, Otai claimed he was at Bugolobi Medical Centre, and received Patricia, who had rushed her mother there after an alleged accident. He referred them to IHK. While at IHK, Patricia supposedly received a call from Martha, saying their “father wasn’t fine.” Otai then proceeded to Katanga’s home, where George Amanyire led him to the bedroom. There, he found Henry dead and was told it was suicide. But again, Bibiana was unconvinced.
She elected to follow the hospital trail, tracing the events back to Bugolobi Medical Centre and at IHK. At Bugolobi, she was handed a referral letter, citing a “road traffic accident.” At IHK, authorities produced an emergency assessment form, again, listing a “car crash injury.” Obviously, both accounts conflicted with those of Patricia and Otai’s shifting versions.
Bibiana further testfied that on that day, 2nd November 2023, herself, with Kagarura, Okurut, Mbabazi, and a SOCO from Kabalagala, attempted to access Molly at IHK, but a one Dr. Kavuma blocked them. However, SOCO Birungi gained entry and collected crucial evidence including swabs from Molly, bedsheets from both IHK and Bugolobi, and one dress. Curiously, Bugolobi bedsheet bore no blood, hence raising questions about staged evidence.
The Conclusion
With the tangled web of lies, disappearing bullets, and inconsistent medical records, Detective SP Bibiana Akongo presented her findings in Court. Her testimony was clear – Henry Katanga did not commit suicide. The evidence pointed unmistakably to homicide, concealed by a network of conspirators weaving conflicting stories. Her Testmony continues…
Author Profile
- Stanley Ndawula is a two and a half decades’ seasoned investigative journalist with a knack for serious crimes investigations and reporting. He’s the Founding Editorial Director and CEO at The Investigator Publications (U) Limited
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