GULU – Four years after the death of Rights Activist, Kenneth Akena, his family has hosted key murder suspect Mathew Kanyamunyu in Gulu, in the first of a series of meetings.
Kanyamunyu, his brother Joseph Kanyamunyu and girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari were arrested in 2016 on allegations of the murder of Akena after the deceased told doctors and his brother that his car had knocked the accused’s car at Lugogo mall parking yard in Kampala, upon which Matthew drew out a gun and shot at him. The deceased had reportedly gone to apologize to Kanyamunyu after he knocked his car.
It was Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend Cynthia who took Akena to Victoria Clinic and thereafter Nakasero Hospital from where the victim was transferred to Norvik Hospital on Bombo Road where he died the following day.
Appearing before the elders, Kamunyu admitted to having shot Akena and described himself as stupid,foolish and evil.
“To be honest, I would be lying to you if I told you that I have fully comprehended the tragedy of that day. The stupidity,the foolishness,the evil that I exhibited on that day is not something that I knew was in me. But now I recognize that deep within me, there’s evil that I did not know about,” he said.
Kanyamungu who while on his knees asked for forgiveness from the elders who in turn told him to pay 10 cows and three goats to which he agreed.
Under the ultimate Acholi tradition justice system of Mato Oput, the accused person must admit his/her mistake through a meaningful confession and must also accept to pay reparations for the damages caused.
The Observer reported that Kamunyu admitted that he will make the same confession before the High court in Kampala where he is being prosecuted to allow him to enter a plea bargain.
“However, Akena’s family members remain optimistic about the pursuit of traditional justice by Kanyamunyu’s family will not derail them from continuing with criminal proceedings already before the court,” the Observer reported.
