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In the surreal incident captured on video, police officers can be seen trying to make forceful entry into the operating theatre where Mrs Katanga was undergoing her fifth medical procedure.
Through her lawyers, she described the incident as a clear overstepping of bounds by law enforcement.
The footage captured by Mrs Katanga’s relatives depicts a confrontation wherein Police Officer Constable Mageni demanded the deletion of the recording, emphasising the severity of the privacy violation.
In a petition to Justice Flavian Zeija, the principal judge, the lawyers of Kampala Associated Advocates pointed out that that was not the first intrusion that Mrs Katanga has faced from law enforcement.
According to the lawyers, the incident happened on Tuesday this week at C-Care IHK Hospital, adding that days earlier, two officers Bob Kagarura and Wathum Benson had forcefully entered the ICU and and coerced the hospital staff to discharge Mrs Katanga so that she could be produced in court.
The lawyers further noted that Police have maintained a heavy presence at the hospital even when in the ongoing murder case, the DPP has repeatedly denied knowledge of the whereabouts of Mrs Katanga.
“My Lord, being charged with murder while being grievously injured doesn't do away with our Client's constitutional right to life, right to privacy and most importantly the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty,” the petition reads in part.
As public attention focuses on this case, the judge's response to the petition will stand as a crucial moment in balancing law enforcement obligations with safeguarding individual rights.
The resolution of this petition might establish a precedent for handling similar delicate matters in the future, ensuring that the principles of justice endure even in challenging circumstances.