The deceased’s family asserts that Molly shot her husband during a family dispute. In contrast, Molly’s family members claim that Henry had physically assaulted his wife to the extent that he believed she was dead, leading him to commit suicide.
Henry Katanga, a prominent businessman in Kampala and a member of the Ankole royalty, met a tragic end when he was fatally shot on a Thursday morning following a heated argument with his wife, Molly Katanga, at their home near Rivonia Suites in Mbuya, Kampala.
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 Molly. The couple’s argument escalated and it culminated in a gunshot being heard from their bedroom.
Their daughter, Tricia, 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 a family dispute. In contrast, Molly’s family members claim that Henry had physically assaulted his wife to the extent that he believed she was dead, leading him to commit suicide.
Both families 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.
The police are anticipated to issue a statement on this high-profile case in due course.
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.