High Court Kiboga: Moses Anguyo Murder Conviction for 4 Deaths

• Prison warder Moses Anguyo was convicted of murdering four people, including a child and two fellow officers, following a shooting at Kiboga Government Prison.
• Anguyo pleaded guilty to seven charges, which included four counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, and one count of threatening violence.
• The incident began when Anguyo, found using a mobile phone on duty, became violent after being asked to surrender his firearm, leading to the fatal shootings.
• He fled to the Democratic Republic of Congo after abandoning his uniform and weapon, but was apprehended in Aru, DRC, on March 27, 2026, following a cross-border manhunt.
• The prosecution has requested the death penalty, with sentencing scheduled for September 1, after hearing from victims' families, the Uganda Prisons Service, and the community.

The court accepted Anguyo's admission of responsibility for all seven offenses, leading to his formal conviction.

The High Court sitting in Kiboga has found prison warder Moses Anguyo guilty of the murder of four individuals, including two fellow prison officers and a one-year-old child. The conviction, handed down on a Monday following Anguyo's guilty plea, stems from a violent shooting incident that occurred at Kiboga Government Prison on February 23, 2026. Anguyo faced a total of seven charges, encompassing four counts of murder, two counts of aggravated robbery, and one count of threatening violence.

The court accepted Anguyo's admission of responsibility for all seven offenses, leading to his formal conviction. This development marks a significant step in the legal process following the tragic events that unfolded earlier this year. The prosecution has since advocated for the imposition of the maximum penalty available under the law, which is a death sentence, reflecting the gravity of the crimes committed.

The incident began during a routine inspection at Kiboga Government Prison, where Anguyo was on duty at Sentry "A" and armed with an SMG rifle. Prosecutors detailed how Anguyo was found using a mobile phone, a violation of prison operational rules. When instructed by his superiors to surrender his firearm, he reportedly became violent, cocking the weapon and aiming it at Superintendent of Police Ivan Niwagaba, the Officer in Charge of Kiboga Government Prison.

Although the firearm initially misfired, Anguyo re-cocked it and discharged a shot at SP Niwagaba, who narrowly escaped injury. The violence then escalated within the prison compound. Sarah Ayebare and her infant son, Salson Niwagaba, were tragically shot while inside a vehicle in the prison yard. Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Catherine Hope was also fatally shot in a toilet located at the District Health Officer's premises. Principal Officer One (PO1) Bright Akishuri lost his life while responding to the sound of gunfire, believing prisoners might have escaped and moving to address the situation when he was shot. Following these horrific acts, Anguyo fled the scene, proceeding to Saza Trading Centre where he robbed two women, Katusiime Grace and Nabayiga Mary, of their clothing items—a pair of black jeans and an Arsenal jersey, respectively—while still armed with the SMG rifle.

After the shooting and robbery, Anguyo abandoned his prison uniform and firearm in a bush within Kibiga Sub-County. He then made his way towards northern Uganda, eventually crossing into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). His disappearance triggered an extensive cross-border manhunt involving Ugandan security agencies and Congolese authorities. This joint operation ultimately led to his arrest in Aru, DRC, on March 27, 2026.

Ugandan investigators had also detained individuals close to Anguyo during the search, as reported earlier in the case. Following his apprehension, Anguyo was repatriated to Uganda to face trial. When court proceedings commenced at the High Court in Kiboga, he initially denied the charges against him. However, he later reversed his stance, changing his plea to guilty for all seven offenses, which the court subsequently accepted, leading to his conviction.

With the conviction now secured, the legal focus shifts to the sentencing phase. The prosecution has formally requested the court to impose the death penalty, underscoring the severity of the crimes committed by Moses Anguyo. Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga presided over the case, with Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Dr Daisy Nabasitu and Senior State Attorney Stephen Arion representing the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Anguyo's defense was handled by lawyers Swaibu Male and Cate Nakamya.

The court has scheduled Tuesday, September 1, for the sentencing hearing. Prior to delivering the final sentence, the court is expected to hear testimonies and statements from the families of the deceased victims, representatives from the Uganda Prisons Service, and members of the wider community. This consultative process aims to ensure that all relevant perspectives are considered before the final judgment is pronounced.

Source: Original reporting via {source}