THE High Court in Kampala has acquitted a woman who pleaded guilty to strangling her four children to death, citing insanity.
Justice Andrew Bashaijja yesterday said at the time Margaret Kasande committed the crime, she was deranged. Reading the judgment yesterday, Bashaijja said prosecution had failed to prove that there was malice aforethought by the suspect.
Prosecution had alleged that Kasande on July 30, 2008 strangled her four children, who included a set of twins, at their home in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb before trying to kill herself.
However, defence counsel Ambrose Tiishekwa, in his submission, insisted that Dr. Julius Muloni of Butabika Hospital in his report had stated that she had been mentally ill at the time.
Kasande pleaded guilty to murdering Marion Muhoozi, Batta Kabatsi, Medrine Nakato and Merisha Babirye and pleaded with court for a lenient punishment.
She said had lost her mind when she committed the murder and regretted the action because she loved her children. Kasande also asked for forgiveness from her husband and the country.
Bashaijja, in his judgment, ordered that the Ministry of Health take charge of Kasande at Butabika Hospital until she recovers from the mental problem she is suffering from.
Kasande’s estranged husband, Gerald Mukwandi, had asked court to make its verdict, but said he had forgiven her.
Mukwandi said their problems started when he stopped her from moving to Sudan where she had been promised a job.
Kasande, alias Nalongo, is said to have used a nylon curtain to strangle her daughters, aged between two and five, one by one, starting with the eldest.
She then placed the four bodies on a bed and covered them with a bed-sheet.
Kasande, in an attempt to commit suicide, put a rope around her neck and took poison, but was rescued by her husband when he returned from work in the evening.
Justice Andrew Bashaijja yesterday said at the time Margaret Kasande committed the crime, she was deranged. Reading the judgment yesterday, Bashaijja said prosecution had failed to prove that there was malice aforethought by the suspect.
Prosecution had alleged that Kasande on July 30, 2008 strangled her four children, who included a set of twins, at their home in Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb before trying to kill herself.
However, defence counsel Ambrose Tiishekwa, in his submission, insisted that Dr. Julius Muloni of Butabika Hospital in his report had stated that she had been mentally ill at the time.
Kasande pleaded guilty to murdering Marion Muhoozi, Batta Kabatsi, Medrine Nakato and Merisha Babirye and pleaded with court for a lenient punishment.
She said had lost her mind when she committed the murder and regretted the action because she loved her children. Kasande also asked for forgiveness from her husband and the country.
Bashaijja, in his judgment, ordered that the Ministry of Health take charge of Kasande at Butabika Hospital until she recovers from the mental problem she is suffering from.
Kasande’s estranged husband, Gerald Mukwandi, had asked court to make its verdict, but said he had forgiven her.
Mukwandi said their problems started when he stopped her from moving to Sudan where she had been promised a job.
Kasande, alias Nalongo, is said to have used a nylon curtain to strangle her daughters, aged between two and five, one by one, starting with the eldest.
She then placed the four bodies on a bed and covered them with a bed-sheet.
Kasande, in an attempt to commit suicide, put a rope around her neck and took poison, but was rescued by her husband when he returned from work in the evening.
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