{UAH} Uganda: Kasiwukira's Murder - Judgment Stirs Public Debate
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Uganda: Kasiwukira's Murder - Judgment Stirs Public Debate
Eriya Bugembe Sebunya's (Kasiwukira) widow, Ms Sarah Nabikolo's release has triggered differing public reactions.
Ms Nabikolo was acquitted by the High Court on Wednesday after the court failed to find sufficient evidence to incriminate her in the murder of her husband and city businessman.
Court however condemned Ashraf Jaden, a police constable and Nabikolo's cousin Sandra Nakungu. The two will serve 20 years in prison for conspiring and murdering Kasiwukira.
Many Ugandans who were dissatisfied by the judgment took to social media platforms such as Facebook to hit at the court and judges, while those who had a hunch the widow was innocent, passed on good wishes.
Mr Herbert Mugisha said: "Justice [has been] served to her and her family but what about the rest of the prisoners languishing in jails and the alarming case backlog statistics?"
Also, Ms Agie Nasie remarked, "... congrats to her, but I have a problem with the justice sector in Uganda. Very many people are in prisons accused of crimes they probably never committed, but just because they are not rich like the so-called Kasiwukiras, they never get justice... "
Ms Joy Sabakaki did not spare any blushes on congratulating her fellow widow saying, "... As a widow too I say (congratulations)". She added that only God knows what transpired between the widow and the deceased but could tell it has become a habit for relatives of the deceased to make such allegations.
Although the comments streamed with a number of congratulatory messages, others could not come to terms with her release.
One only identified as Cissy Storer felt that Nabikolo's release was unfair.
"Out of experience, I don't trust women. She could be behind killing her husband because of his property," Ms Storer commented.
Like Storer, Mr Joseph Mutalya is discontent with the court verdict. He said, "(Nabikolo) thinks she will survive the right judgment. Nyabo, you must know mukama talya mandazi [implying that God cannot be bribed] and the truth will never hide".
However, others sang praises of the lawyer MacDusman Kabega, who defended Ms Nabikolo, although others think there was influence.
While Mr Baguma Timothy said he needed Mr Kabega's contact because he believes he must be from the future, one Prince Fourcent bluntly noted that there must be "a big fish" involved.
Likewise Joseph Egonyu said: "The killers must be celebrating somewhere and will compensate this one for the time spent in prison, Draru style."
Up until now, a thread of comments is being weaved as a number of people, both happy and unhappy with the judgment are speaking their mind. For some, many questions remain.
"How can a sister- in-law wake up with a plan to kill her sister's husband without motivation from his wife? This judgment is biased and appears to be money-oriented," Mr Joseph Emuli, stated.
On the streets however, Kasiwukira's murder had long been forgotten by the many who had stopped following.
Mr Patrick Isabirye, a mobile money agent on Jinja Road was surprised the case was ongoing.
Now that the widow has been acquitted, many are wondering why she spent the two years in prison if she was innocent.
"I knew that Nabikolo was innocent but she was sent to jail. It is therefore strange that court from nowhere has acquitted her," Isabirye pointed out, as he tried to scratch his head in an attempt to make sense of the events. There were many others like him who had no idea the case had come to an end.
A number of lawyers this newspaper contacted on the same said they had not had the opportunity to read the judgment and reasoning of the trial court, therefore were unable to clearly assess the circumstances. Although this case caused quite a stir at the start, it seems it will soon be forgotten, much faster than others we have seen of the same nature.
What others say
"I find it hard to imagine that any woman can kill her husband. I therefore don't think it is easy, although I cannot comment on the court proceedings that led to Nabikolo being acquitted," said Dr Maggie Kasozi, former executive director of the Uganda Investment Authority.
"Jailing Nabikolo for two years was indulgent on criminal justice system. What has happened is abuse of innocence. If indeed she was innocent, why did it take long for her to be acquitted?" said Mr Nicholas Opiyo, Human rights Lawyer and Executive Director of Chapter Four.
"I do not know under what circumstances Nabikolo was charged. I also do not know if she had misunderstandings with her late husband so I cannot judge what happened behind closed doors. But since there was no evidence to incriminate her, then that's good for her and her children. In this country, we have many people being convicted for crimes they have not committed," said Ms Aidah Leah Nabunya, a Public Relations Officer.
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