The Court of Appeal has upheld the 12-year and three-month prison term handed to Godfrey Wamala, also known as Troy, for the death of renowned Ugandan musician Moses Ssekibogo, popularly known as Mozey Radio.
A panel of justices—Christopher Gashirabake, Dr. Asa Mugenyi, and John Mike Musisi—unanimously dismissed Wamala’s appeal, concluding that the trial court rightly found him guilty of manslaughter based on strong and reliable evidence.
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Wamala had challenged both his conviction and sentence, arguing that inconsistencies in the prosecution’s evidence should have led to his acquittal. He also claimed the sentence, which was originally 14 years but reduced to 12 years, three months, and four days after deducting time spent in remand, was too severe.
Mozey Radio, a co-founder of the Goodlyfe Crew, suffered fatal head injuries when Wamala slammed him to the ground during a fight at De Bar in Entebbe on January 22, 2018. He later died at Case Clinic in Kampala.
In their ruling, the judges said that two key witnesses—Pamela Musimire (PW2) and David Otim a.k.a. Washington (PW1)—had consistently identified Wamala as the person who assaulted the singer.
“The trial court was correct in finding that the prosecution had proven causation of death beyond a reasonable doubt,” the justices ruled. They disagreed with the trial assessors and emphasized that the identification of Wamala was clear and credible.
They also rejected claims that poor lighting inside the bar could have led to mistaken identity, noting that all witnesses confirmed there was sufficient light to recognize individuals present.
Wamala’s behavior after the incident—particularly fleeing the scene and abandoning his belongings—was viewed as indicative of guilt.
“The appellant’s disappearance was not consistent with that of an innocent person,” the court observed.
His lawyer had requested a reduced sentence of five years, citing similar past cases. However, the court maintained that the nature and severity of the assault warranted the sentence imposed by the trial judge.
“The manner in which the assault was carried out, especially the head injury and the force used in slamming the victim onto a hard surface, justified a tougher penalty,” the court ruled.
This decision, delivered under Criminal Appeal No. 361 of 2019, brings closure to a highly publicized case that has remained in the national spotlight since Mozey Radio’s tragic death. For many, the ruling marks a long-awaited conclusion and a measure of justice.
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