More than a month after the killing of child rights activist, Kenneth Akena Watmon, investigations into his suspected murder are incomplete, the State told court yesterday.
The revelation of incomplete investigations was made to Nakawa Chief Magistrate’s Court by a prosecutor, Rachael Nabwire.
Murder suspects Matthew Kanyamunyu, his girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari and brother Joseph Kanyamunyu had been produced before court for the second time since they were charged on November 22 with the murder of Akena.
“Investigations into this matter are still incomplete and we seek for an adjournment….” Ms Nabwire said.
The prosecutor then asked Grade One Magistrate Noah Sajjabi to adjourn the case to another date to enable the State wind up its investigations.
Mr Sajjabi adjourned the matter to January 3, 2017 to allow the State “tie the loose ends” in the investigations.
Defence lawyer Ivan Kyateka did not say a word in court as the proceedings went on.
The Kanyamunyus were brought to court aboard a prisons bus shortly before 9am in handcuffs. Like other suspects on remand, they were sent to the court’s holding cells where they stayed for a few minutes before being brought before court.
Mathew Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend, Cynthia were arrested on suspicion that the former shot the late Akena after he reportedly knocked his car at Lugogo, near Kampala.
The deceased had reportedly gone to apologise to Kanyamunyu for scratching his car, and also to make good, only for the accused to allegedly lower the windows of his car and shoot him.
It is alleged that Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend then took Akena to Norvik Hospital along Bombo Road where he died the following day.
The police say Akena confided in his cousin after the shooting whom he told that it was Kanyamunyu who shot him after he accidentally knocked his car.
But Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend have since insisted that they were acting as good Samaritans to drop Akena to hospital after unidentified assailants shot at him.
Prosecution alleges that on November 12, Matthew, Munwangari, Joseph and other accomplices still at large, while on Kampala-Jinja road near Malik Car Bond, opposite Uganda Manufacturers Association offices in Nakawa Division, with malice aforethought, caused the death of Akena.
Speaking to this newspaper in a telephone interview yesterday, DPP spokesperson Jane Okuo Kajuga, explained that there is no specified period of time within which the State is supposed to conclude investigations into a given case.
However, Ms Kajuga was quick to add that should the investigations take more than six months without the accused being referred to the High Court for trial and yet they are still on remand, the law allows them to automatically be released on bail with or without sureties.
Akena murder
Development: Investigations in the matter are still incomplete.
Adjourned. Nakawa Grade One Magistrate Sajjabi adjourned the matter to January 3, 2017 to allow the State “tie the loose ends” in the investigations.
Suspects: Murder suspects Matthew Kanyamunyu, his girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari and brother Joseph Kanyamunyu had been produced before court for the second time since they were charged on November 22 with the murder of Akena.
Prosecution: Prosecution alleges that on November 12, Matthew, Munwangari, Joseph and other accomplices still at large, while on Kampala-Jinja road near Malik Car Bond, opposite Uganda Manufacturers Association offices in Nakawa Division, with malice aforethought, caused the death of Akena.
©Alleastafrica and Daily Monitor
