Godfrey Wamala, widely known as Troy, will remain behind bars for the killing of iconic Ugandan musician Moses Ssekibogo, alias Mowzey Radio, after the Court of Appeal dismissed his challenge against both conviction and sentence.
In a ruling delivered by a three-judge panel — Justices Christopher Gashirabake, Dr. Asa Mugenyi, and John Mike Musisi — the court upheld the 12-year and three-month prison term handed to Wamala. The judges agreed that the trial court had rightly convicted him of manslaughter based on strong and consistent testimony.
Wamala had sought to have his conviction overturned, arguing that there were inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence and that his sentence, originally 14 years but reduced due to time served on remand, was unduly harsh. However, the appellate court rejected these claims, saying the conviction was grounded in credible witness accounts and proper legal procedures.
The incident in question occurred on January 22, 2018, at De Bar in Entebbe, where a confrontation between Wamala and Radio turned violent. Witnesses testified that Wamala forcefully pushed the musician to the ground, causing a severe head injury. Radio succumbed to his injuries days later at the Case Clinic in Kampala.
In their judgment, the justices pointed to clear eyewitness evidence from producer David Otim, known as Washington, and Pamela Musimire, both of whom identified Wamala as the individual who assaulted Radio. The court dismissed Wamala’s argument that visibility inside the bar was too poor for proper identification, stating the witnesses had a clear view of the incident.
The Court’s decision brings to a close Wamala’s efforts to challenge his conviction, reaffirming the findings of the lower court.
