Katanga Murder Trial: Defense Challenges Director of Forensics with claim that DNA report was edited

Kizimula also admitted that "stutter," a common artefact in DNA analysis, was manually removed from the report, which defense lawyers argue could have potentially altered the accuracy of the results.

The defense in the ongoing Katanga murder trial is aggressively challenging the forensic evidence presented by the prosecution. In cross-examining the Director of Forensic Services, Andrew Mubiru Kizumula, defense lawyers have highlighted inconsistencies and limitations in the investigation.

According to defense lawyers led by Elison Karuhanga, Kizimula’s report was full of manipulations and deliberately eliminated certain aspects.

The court heard that for instance, the electropherogram, a crucial tool for analyzing DNA profiles, was missing critical data, raising questions about the completeness of the evidence.

Kizimula also admitted that "stutter," a common artefact in DNA analysis, was manually removed from the report, which defense lawyers argue could have potentially altered the accuracy of the results.

A DNA allele was included in the report but not on the electropherogram, which defense lawyers suggest points to potential inconsistencies in the analysis.

Kizimula also confessed that he didn't reach the bedroom where the incident happened and doesn't know the Commander who was heading investigations in this case yet he received the reports from the same Commander

He also added that they did not test fingerprints, blood tests, or saliva on the pistol as that's not his field.

In further cross-examination, Kizimula clarified that he can only tell the source or contributor of the DNA but he cannot tell how, when or which activities were undertaken to deposit the DNA.

Also asked whether there was a fingerprint analysis done in this case, Kizimula testified that he has not come across any report speaking to lifting and testing of fingerprints despite him being the Director of Forensic Services in the Uganda Police.

Now  According to the defence lawyers, since the  DNA expert established  Molly Katanga's blood on the floor,  wardrobe,  door knobs, ceiling, and bathroom, it means that she was subjected to a heinous treatment on the 2nd / November 2023, since he doesn't know the activities that led to the depositing of the DNA on the objects he tested.

After his death on 2nd / November 2023 at the family home on Chwa 2 Road in Mbuya , the widow Molly Katanga was indicted for his murder and  their  2 dauhters Patrica Kakwanzi and Martha Nkwanzi were charged with destroying valuable evidence and being accessories after the commission of murder.

The Katanga family members are jointly charged with the shamba boy George Amanyire and a nursing officer Charles Otai.