🔴 Anthony Natif notes from Court: Uganda Vs Molly Katanga and Others July 23/2026

What the report says

The Independent Uganda reported that the July 23, 2026 hearing in Uganda v Molly Katanga and Others ended in a tense dispute during the prosecution’s cross-examination of a defence witness, an orthopaedic surgeon identified in the report as DW3. The account, published July 24 and based on Anthony Natif’s court notes, says the matter was adjourned to September after Justice Kania intervened in a session dominated by arguments over the scope of the doctor’s testimony.

The surgeon, who said he treated Mrs Katanga’s injuries in November 2023, repeatedly declined to answer questions he considered outside his direct role or specialist knowledge. Prosecutor Jonathan Muwaganya pressed him on whether he could confirm the authenticity of wider hospital records from IHK and whether he had reviewed the patient file. The witness maintained that he could address only the parts relevant to his orthopaedic work, such as X-rays and his own management of the patient, while issues involving other records or professionals should go to hospital administrators or other clinicians.

The report says the exchange broadened into disagreements over patient vitals, consent and theatre-related records, with defence lawyer Jet Tumwebaze objecting at points that the witness had already answered. The hearing became more contentious when the prosecution referred to call data records which it said raised questions about whether DW3 was at IHK when he claimed to have operated on Mrs Katanga.

The defence challenged the reliability and handling of those call data materials, arguing that they appeared to place the doctor in several locations within minutes, including around Namuwongo where IHK is located. The Independent reported that the judge directed the defence to verify the court order used by the state to obtain the records.