Kampala businessman Mathew Kanyamunyu, a prime suspect in the shooting of child rights activist Kenneth Akena Watmon in 2016 at Forest Shopping Mall in Lugogo, has confessed to the crime and agreed to pay reparation for the offence.
Last month, Kanyamunyu’s family sought the intervention of Acholi Religious Leaders Peace Initiative (ARLPI) and Acholi Cultural Institution to broker a reconciliation agreement between them and Akena’s family to find closure to the case.
Dr John Baptist Odama, the Gulu Archbishop backed by Rwot David Onen Acana II, the Paramount Chief of Acholi persuaded Akena’s family who in turn opened up to the negotiations. The reconcilers summoned the two families for the first meeting that was held yesterday in Gulu.
The meeting that was held under tents at Ker Kwaro Acholi compound was presided over by Rwot Acana II as a chief witness. A council of six elders cross-examined Kanyamunyu as a requisite step of prior to Mato Oput – a clan or family-centred reconciliation practice.
“He 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,” the source told URN in an interview.
The same source added that after the confession, the elders on the protocol of Mato Oput made an assessment of 10 cows and three goats to be paid by Kanyamunyu’s family to which they agreed to.
The trial of Kanyamunyu and his co-accused, was earlier this year adjourned indefinitely by presiding judge Stephen Mubiru.