Teacher convicted for wife’s manslaughter

The Nabweru Chief Magistrate’s court has convicted a teacher at Global Primary school in Isingiro district for manslaughter on his own plea of guilty.

Simon Shimanya pleaded guilty before the Nabweru Chief Magistrate, Patricia Amoko on Tuesday for the involuntary murder of his wife, 38-year-old Viola Kakai, a former nurse at International Hospital Kampala (IHK).

Shimanya had appeared before court on charges of manslaughter contrary to sections 187 and 190 of the penal code act. Prosecution led by State Prosecutor, Timothy Amert told court that while at their marital home in Kiteezi village in Kasangati in Wakiso district on August 1st, 2020, the accused hit his wife with an axe on her head in front of their three children.

Court heard that on the fateful day, the convict returned home earlier and waited for the deceased. He later heard a vehicle drop her off. He reportedly dashed into the house and picked an axe, which he used to hit the deceased on the head two or three times before he fled to Isingiro district where he was picked up by detectives.

Kakai was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital where she was rushed for treatment. Amert asked court to sentence Shimanyi to 25 years’ imprisonment as a lesson for him to learn how to control his anger.

He said acts of murder are rampant in this age particularly within the domestic setting and as such, court not only to put an end to the vice but also punish the perpetrators thereof.

Shimanyi confessed to the crime, saying he acted in anger after hearing that his wife was involved in an extra marital affair.

He pleaded for the court’s mercy and prayed for a lighter sentence to allow him look after their three children who had been abandoned by their mother.

The Nabweru Chief Magistrate, Patricia Amoko found Shimanyi guilty and set Septmber 1, 2020 to deliver her sentence.

The offense of manslaughter is punishable by the maximum penalty of life imprisonment under section 190 of the Penal Code Act. However, the maximum sentence is only handed out during extreme circumstances.

Manslaughter is the involuntary slaughter of another person under circumstances that would constitute murder in the heat of passion or provocation.