UGANDA: FARMER MUST HANG - COURT INSISTS

the Court of Appeal in Kampala, Uganda, upheld a death sentence against a 25 year old farmer from the Kabarole district who was convicted of murder. The deputy Chief Justice, Laetitia Mukasa-Kikonyogo, headed the panel, which included justices Alice Mpagi-Bahigeine and Stephen George Engwau. Justice Lameck Mukasa in 2003 found Selvano Kaahwa of Mbale trading centre, in Kabarole district, guilty of killing Peter Kateeba, a drunk who was lying by the roadside. The justices said the trial judge's findings were correct. Kaahwa was jointly indicted with his cousin, Wilson Kiiza, but after a protracted trial, the court acquitted Kiiza. The prosecution alleged that on January 30, 1997, Kaahwa, who was with his cousin, Kiiza, found Kateeba lying by the roadside, apparently drunk and beat him to death. According to the defence evidence, the drunk man allegedly abused Kaahwa, who got annoyed and pounded him with a metallic bicycle lock. Kateeba died the next day due to multiple injuries to his head. Kaahwa, a resident of Kasiabya village, Mbale Parish, fled to his aunt's residence in Magoma Karabi village, in Kabarole District, from where he was arrested.