national 2 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Four Acquitted in Masaka Businessman Murder Case
Masaka High Court has acquitted four individuals, including the deceased businessman's wife and son, of murder charges due to insufficient evidence. The prosecution failed to prove their involvement in the death of Hajji Erias Ddungu, who was found murdered in his poultry house in 2022. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/four-acquitted-over-murder-of-masaka-businessman-5581664
Masaka High Court has delivered a significant acquittal, releasing four individuals who had been on remand for over four years in connection with the murder of prominent Masaka businessman, Hajji Erias Ddungu.
The acquitted are the deceased’s wife, Hanipher Namaganda; his brother, Musa Nanseera; his son, Hamis Ddungu; and a casual labourer, Godfrey Migadde Mmande. The presiding judge, Justice Fatuma Nanziri, ruled that while the prosecution successfully proved that Hajji Ddungu was unlawfully killed with malice, it failed to present sufficient evidence linking the accused to the crime.
The businessman, also known as Daida, was reportedly found murdered and hanged in a poultry house at his home on September 2, 2022. The prosecution’s case hinged on the assertion that the accused were present at the crime scene. However, Justice Nanziri noted that no witnesses testified to seeing the accused actually commit the murder.
“The prosecution has proved that the deceased died and his death was unlawful, and it was done with malice; though it failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that any of the four accused persons participated in the killing,” Justice Nanziri stated in her judgment. She acknowledged the assessors’ opinion, which recommended convicting the wife and the labourer while acquitting the brother and son, but ultimately disagreed, finding the evidence against all four to be unconvincing.
The ruling has elicited mixed reactions. Some relatives of the deceased have expressed dissatisfaction and are considering an appeal, questioning how the presented evidence, including police investigations and a medical report, was deemed insufficient. Conversely, the families of the acquitted expressed relief and gratitude, celebrating the triumph of justice after a lengthy four-year wait.
The defense lawyer, Pius Kiryowa Kabiswa, commended the court for its thorough review, emphasizing that the prosecution did not meet the burden of proof required for a murder conviction. He also pointed out that evidence suggested the deceased might have had personal issues, including debts, that could have contributed to his death.