According to security, some family members who were at the home at the time of the incident were arrested as the investigations into the matter commenced.
Henry Katanga, a prominent businessman in Kampala and a member of the Ankole royalty, tragically met his death when he was allegedly shot at by his wife, Molly Katanga in his bedroom on Thursday morning.
The incident is said to have followed a heated argument with his wife Molly at their home near Rovonia Suites in Mbuya, Kampala.
Born on June 30, 1962, Katanga has died at 61 years. He is a son to Arthur Katanga and Meriel Katanga. He got married to Molly Bunanukye Katanga, on July 21, 1989. Henry and Molly have four children; Trecia Katanga, Arthur Katanga, Martha Katanga and Siima Katanga. They have been so far blessed with one grandchild, Archie Mugasha Kivuna.
Katanga has been a prominent and successful businessman. Golf has been one of his hobbies.
Close friends and family members on Friday evening attended Katanga’s funeral service at All saints Church Nakasero. His vigil was then held at his home in Mbuya Plot 50 – Chwa 2 Road.
His burial will take place at their ancestral place in Karuroko – Kikatsi – Kiruhura District on Sunday November 5, 2023.
How Katanga met his death
Police is said to have recovered a pistol no.UG 16222 00061 CZ99 COMPACT which was used to shoot him on the head.
According to information obtained by this publication, the fatal incident occurred when Henry returned home in the early hours of Thursday after a night of revelry with friends, which led to an enraged reaction from his wife Molly. The couple’s argument escalated and it culminated in a gunshot being heard from their bedroom.
Their daughter, Trecia, rushed to their bedroom only to discover her father, Henry, with a grievous head injury. He had succumbed to the gunshot. Molly was found unconscious on the bedroom floor and was subsequently rushed to IHK Hospital in Namuwongo, Kampala.
The deceased’s family asserts that Molly shot her husband during their dispute. In contrast, Molly’s family members claim that Henry had physically assaulted her to the extent that he believed she was dead, leading him to commit suicide.
According to security, some family members who were at the home at the time of the incident were arrested as the investigations into the matter commenced.
Several top security officers, including the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi and Kampala Metropolitan Police (KMP) commander, SCP Stephen Tanui are said to have rushed to the scene after a distress call was made to the OC station Bugolobi, ASP Peter Ogwang. The body was taken to Mulago city mortuary for postmortem as investigations continue.
The couple hold significant connections within the country’s political and military elite. Molly is a major supplier to the defense ministry, earning substantial annual revenues, and many of her relatives serve in the armed forces.
This incident draws parallels to the 2013 case involving wealthy Kampala businessman Juvenal Nsenga, who met a similarly unfortunate end when his wife, Uwera Nsenga, ran him over with a car at their family home’s gate. The couple had unresolved domestic issues, and Uwera was subsequently convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison for Nsenga’s murder.
The Katanga family had attended their daughter’s wedding at Mestil Hotel just the past Saturday, appearing to be in good spirits. A close friend who was present at the wedding ceremony expressed confusion about the sudden turn of events, stating, “We really don’t understand what could have gone wrong.”
Uganda has seen a concerning rise in cases of domestic violence, as indicated by police records. In 2022, a total of 17,698 cases of domestic violence were reported to the police, showing a slight increase from the 17,533 cases reported in 2021, marking a 0.94% rise in such incidents. Additionally, 301 cases of murder resulting from domestic violence were reported to the police in 2022.