The High Court in Kiboga has convicted prison warder Moses Anguyo on seven criminal charges, including the murder of four people, aggravated robbery and threatening violence against a senior prisons officer.
Anguyo pleaded guilty to all seven charges when he appeared before the High Court on Monday, prompting Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga to convict him on all counts. The four murder charges relate to the deaths of Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Catherine Hope, Principal Officer (PO1) Akishuri Bright, Ayebare Sarah and her infant son, Niwagaba Salson.
Anguyo also pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery involving clothes belonging to Mary Nabayiga and Grace Kamusiime, which he allegedly stole while armed with a submachine gun. The seventh charge involved threatening violence against SP Ivan Niwagaba, whom Anguyo allegedly threatened to shoot or kill.
According to the prosecution, the incident occurred on February 23, 2026, while Anguyo was on duty at Sentry “A” at Kiboga Government Prison and armed with an SMG rifle. The prosecution told the court that Anguyo became insubordinate during a supervisory inspection conducted by SP Niwagaba and ASP Catherine Hope after he was allegedly found using a mobile phone while on duty, contrary to prison regulations and operational directives.
He was reportedly instructed to hand over the firearm but allegedly became violent, cocked the weapon, and pointed it at SP Niwagaba. Although the firearm initially malfunctioned, the prosecution said Anguyo re-cocked it and fired at Niwagaba, who escaped unharmed.
The incident then escalated into a shooting spree in which four people were killed. The prosecution said Anguyo shot Sarah Ayebare and her infant son, Salson Niwagaba, while they were inside a vehicle in the prison yard. He later shot ASP Catherine Hope in a toilet at the District Health Officer’s premises.
PO1 Bright Akishuri was also fatally shot after responding to the sound of gunfire, reportedly believing that prisoners were escaping. After the shootings, Anguyo allegedly fled the prison and went to Saza Trading Centre, where he committed two aggravated robberies while still armed with the SMG rifle.
He allegedly stole a pair of black jeans from Grace Kamusiime and an Arsenal jersey from Mary Nabayiga. The prosecution further told the court that Anguyo later discarded his prison uniform and abandoned the firearm in a bush in Kibiga Sub-County before fleeing the area.
He travelled to Arua and subsequently crossed into the Democratic Republic of Congo, where he was later arrested in Aru during a joint Uganda-DRC operation and returned to Uganda to face the charges. Following his guilty plea, the High Court convicted Anguyo on all seven counts.
The prosecution and defence subsequently made submissions on sentencing. The prosecution team, led by Dr Daisy Nabasitu, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, and Stephen Arion, Senior State Attorney, asked the court to impose the maximum penalties provided by law, including the death penalty.
Anguyo is represented by lawyers Swaibu Male and Cate Nakamya. The court is expected to hear victim impact statements from the families of the deceased, the Uganda Prisons Service and members of the community before sentencing Anguyo on Tuesday, September 1, 2026.
In a statement issued by Jacquelyn Okui, Public Relations Officer at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the ODPP said it remains committed to ensuring that persons who commit serious offences are brought to justice and that the interests of victims and their families are upheld throughout the criminal justice process.
“The conviction of Anguyo Moses on the counts to which he pleaded guilty marks a significant step in securing justice for the four deceased persons and addressing the threat of violence against SP Niwagaba Ivan,” Okui said-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
