The High Court sitting in Kiboga has convicted Prison Warder Anguyo Moses on seven criminal charges after he pleaded guilty to the murder of four people, aggravated robbery at gunpoint and threatening violence against SP Niwagaba Ivan, the officer in charge of Kiboga Government Prison.
The accused pleaded guilty to four counts of murder relating to the deaths of ASP Catherine Hope, Akishuri Bright, Ayebare Sarah and Niwagaba Salson, two counts of aggravated robbery at gunpoint involving clothes belonging to Nabayiga Mary and Kamusiime Grace, as well as one count of threatening violence arising from allegations that he threatened to shoot or kill SP Niwagaba Ivan.
The prosecution alleged that on February 23, 2026, while on duty at Sentry “A” at Kiboga Government Prison and armed with an SMG rifle, No. UG POL 565824781-32635, Prison Warder Anguyo Moses became insubordinate during a supervisory inspection by SP Niwagaba Ivan and ASP Catherine Hope. He had allegedly been found in breach of prison regulations for using a mobile phone while on duty, contrary to established operational directives.
It was alleged that when he was instructed to hand over the firearm, the accused became violent, cocked the weapon and aimed it at SP Niwagaba Ivan. Although the firearm initially malfunctioned, he allegedly re-cocked it and fired at the officer, who escaped unharmed.
The situation escalated into a shooting in which the accused allegedly fatally shot Sarah Ayebare and her infant son, Salson Niwagaba, while they were in a vehicle in the prison yard.
The accused is further alleged to have shot ASP Catherine Hope in the toilet of the District Health Officer. While Principal Officer Bright Akishuri was responding to the gunshots, thinking that prisoners were escaping, the accused allegedly fatally shot him.
After the incident, the accused allegedly fled the scene and went to Saza Trading Centre, where he committed two aggravated robberies, stealing a pair of black jeans from Katusiime Grace and an Arsenal jersey from Nabayiga Mary while armed with an SMG rifle.
He is further alleged to have disposed of his prison uniform and abandoned the firearm in a bush in Kibiga Sub-County before fleeing the area.
He then went to Arua and subsequently crossed the border into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). He was later arrested in a joint Uganda-DRC operation in Aru.
Appearing before Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga, Anguyo Moses pleaded guilty to all four murder charges, two charges of aggravated robbery and the charge of threatening violence. The High Court consequently convicted him on all seven counts.
The prosecution and defence made submissions relevant to sentencing. The prosecution prayed for the maximum penalty, which is death.
The High Court will hear from the victims of the crimes, including the deceased’s families, Uganda Prisons Service and the community, before delivering the sentence tomorrow, September 1, 2026.
