The case in which city businessman Andrew Kananura alias Desh is accused of killing one of his bar employees has stalled after the lead suspected did not make today’s appearance.
Presiding Judge Joseph Murangira of the High Court was told by the murder suspect’s lawyers on Monday that Desh is still unwell after having an undisclosed surgery at Paragon Hospital, is a private, upscale hospital located at Plot 6B / 7B Luthuli 5th Close, Bugolobi, Kampala.
The judge was further informed that the suspect who death or at least and faces up to 60 years in prison if convicted needs more time to recuperate. Judge Murangira adjourned the trial to March 9.
In a recent court filing, Desh, entered plea of “not guilty” in response the indictment as read to him by the presiding Judge.
On February 23, 2017, Kananura was unable to commence his defense due to the absence of court assessors in this matter.
The day before when the defense was expected to commence, the prosecution asked for an adjournment because their team was not properly composed as some of the lawyers were attending a funeral.
Mr Desh is facing murder charges alongside his brother Raymond Kananura, Cyrus Maganda, Samuel Muzulewa and Jacob Onyango who are jointly accused of beating one Badru Kateregga to death.
Prosecution contends that September 30, 2012 the lead suspect Desh and his co-accused, while at Panamera Bar in Naguru beat and killed Kateregga, a bar attendant, more than Shs30, 000 the deceased had received as a tip from a customer.
Kateregga was a worker at Desh’s Panamera Bar in Naguru, a Kampala suburb near Lugogo Bypass.
The court deduced basing on the evidence brought in by the prosecution, that the accused have a case to answer.
The suspects have three defense options which include keeping quiet, giving unsworn evidence where the prosecution doesn’t ask them questions, or to take oath before giving their testimony.
Slippery Desh
On January 19, 2013 Desh who had left the country after Kateregga’s death, was arrested at Entebbe Airport on his return from the UK. Three days later, he was charged and remanded to Luzira Prison for murder. In February, 2013 the High Court released him (Desh) on a Shs20million bail.
Initially, this matter was supposed to be heard by the head of the Criminal Division, Justice Wilson Masalu Musene.
However, he disqualified himself after a story was published in local tabloid, alleging that he has personal interests in the matter. He dismissed the allegation saying that instead, he had over 300 other cases to handle. The file was then taken back to the Deputy Registrar of Criminal Division, Mary Eleanor Khainza for re-allocation before Murangira took over it.
