The Criminal Division of the High Court of Uganda has rejected bail applications filed by Molly Katanga for the third time in a row.

The 56-year-old widow who faces charges of murdering her husband, businessman Henry Katanga will spend more time at Luzira prison where she had been for over a year.

Delivering the ruling today, February 21, 2025, in a hearing, Justice Rosette Comfort Kania stated that Katanga’s health condition did not meet the threshold for bail, emphasizing that her application lacked sufficient evidence to justify her release.

“The applicant has failed to satisfy the court that her medical condition is so severe that it cannot be managed within the prison system,” Justice Kania stated.

According to Justice Kania, since the case has been scheduled for trial in less than a month, there was no justification for granting bail at this stage.

“With the hearing set for March 10, 2025, the accused should prepare for a marathon hearing to ensure a speedy conclusion of the case,” she added.

Katanga, who has been on remand at Luzira Prison for over a year, is facing trial alongside her daughters, a domestic worker, and a doctor. Her daughters, domestic worker George Amanyire and nursing officer Charles Otai, are accused of tampering with evidence and aiding the alleged crime.

Her legal team argued that a medical report from Mulago Hospital indicated that Katanga required specialized care unavailable in prison. They maintained that her continued detention violated her constitutional rights, citing an admission by the Uganda Prisons Service that they lacked the necessary treatment facilities.

However, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Samali Wakooli and Chief State Attorney Jonathan Muwanganya opposed the application, emphasizing the gravity of the charges against her.

The prosecution insisted that she should remain in custody as she faces trial for the murder of Henry Katanga, who was found dead in their home in Mbuya on November 2, 2023.

The case has been adjourned until March 10, 2025, when the hearing is set to commence.