In a landmark ruling, the High Court in Masaka has sentenced former Kato Kajubi witch doctor Moses Makumbi and his assistant Dennis Kabuye to life imprisonment for their involvement in the sacrificial killing of a minor.
Presided over by Judge Victoria Nakintu Katamba, the verdict concluded a trial that revealed the harrowing details of the heinous crime committed against Passy Mirembe in Kayugi village, Nyendo Mukungwe Division, on October 23, 2017.
During the sentencing, State Prosecutor Noah Kunya depicted the grisly nature of the child’s murder, emphasizing the barbaric manner in which her limbs were severed. Kunya urged the court to impose the severest punishment, advocating for either the death penalty or hanging to serve as a deterrent.
However, defence counsel Alexander Lule Nkima passionately defended Makumbi, citing his advanced age and extensive familial obligations. Lule implored the court to consider a more lenient sentence, highlighting Makumbi’s role as a provider for his large family.
In response, Judge Nakintu summoned the parents of the deceased to make their case.
Moses Karangwa, the grieving father, pleaded with the court to compel Makumbi to surrender his daughter’s remains, particularly her head, for a proper burial.
As Judge Nakintu delivered the verdict, she recounted the gruesome details of Mirembe’s death, describing the ruthless removal of her limbs and internal organs.
Despite the defense’s intention to appeal the ruling, citing dissatisfaction, the verdict brought a sense of closure and relief to the parents and the community.
“Now our daughter can finally rest in peace,” Moses Karangwa said, his eyes moist with tears.
This verdict echoes a similar case in 2012, where city tycoon Godfrey Kato Kajubi was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for orchestrating the ritual sacrifice of 12-year-old Joseph Kasirye, demonstrating the judiciary’s firm stance against such heinous crimes.
