Mathew Kanyamunyu released from prison
The murder charge against Kanyamunyu was reduced to manslaughter by the Director of Public Prosecution following a plea bargain.
Matthew Kanyamunyu has been released from prison on April 12, 2024 after completing three years of a five-year sentence for the killing of social worker Kenneth Akena in 2016.
Kanyamunyu was initially sentenced to five years and one month in jail for manslaughter in 2020. However, he has served three years and five months upon receiving remission.
The murder charge against Kanyamunyu was reduced to manslaughter by the Director of Public Prosecution(DPP) following a plea bargain.
According to his lawyer, Kabatsi, Kanyamunyu accepted before the court that on November 12th, 2016, at Kampala Jinja Highway, he unlawfully caused the death of Kenneth Akena. The incident occurred after a motor accident, which led to a scuffle, and Kanyamunyu fatally shot Akena in the chest.
Justice Stephen Mubiru ruled that Kanyamunyu, being a first-time offender who also took the victim to the hospital after the incident, would not receive a life sentence. Instead, the court accepted his plea bargain of six years’ imprisonment.
The sentence was further reduced by 11 months, meaning he was to serve a total of five years.
In 2020, prior to the court hearing, Kanyamunyu participated in a traditional ritual known as Mato Oput.
During this ceremony, held at the Ker Kwaro Acholi (Acholi Chiefdom), Kanyamunyu reportedly admitted to killing the deceased and was asked by the elders in Acholi to pay ten cows and three goats as restitution.
