The trial of prison warder Moses Anguyo and three co-accused opened at the High Court in Kiboga on Thursday, with the officer who survived the February 23 shooting recounting how his wife and one-year-old son were killed.
Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Ivan Niwagaba, who was in charge of Kiboga Central Prison and Anguyo’s supervisor, told the court that he escaped after Anguyo allegedly pointed a gun at him and attempted to shoot him.
The special High Court session, presided over by Justice Jane Okuo Kajuka, began after the four accused pleaded not guilty to 11 counts.
Niwagaba, the prosecution’s first witness, told court that he had arrived at the prison with his wife Sarah Ayebare and their one-year-old son Salson Nuwagaba before proceeding into the facility to check on inmates.
He said he later discovered that Anguyo, who had been assigned guard duty, was not at his sentry.
Niwagaba said he sent an officer responsible for deployment, Majorine Babirye, to establish Anguyo’s whereabouts.
Babirye later reported that Anguyo had left his assigned position and was in another area near the Kiboga District Health Office.
Niwagaba said he decided to replace Anguyo at the abandoned guard post and later confronted him over his absence and use of a mobile phone while on duty.
He told court that Anguyo refused to surrender the phone and also rejected advice to return home and report the following day.
According to Niwagaba, the confrontation escalated when Anguyo pointed his firearm at him.
‘He cocked the gun that was already pointed at me. The gun failed to discharge the bullets,’ Niwagaba told court.
He said he ordered other prison officers, including Hope Catherine and Kakaire, to run for safety before escaping into a nearby banana plantation.
Niwagaba told court that Anguyo then pursued the officers while shouting that he would ‘finish the westerners’ that day.
Because Anguyo was moving towards the area where Niwagaba had left his family, he attempted to use his phone to warn them.
But by then, his wife and son had already been shot while seeking refuge inside a vehicle, the court heard.
They were later taken to Kiboga Hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
Niwagaba became emotional while recounting the incident, prompting the court to allow him time to regain composure before continuing with his testimony.
Anguyo had earlier told court during plea proceedings that he had killed the four people but claimed the acts were not intentional and followed provocation.
The prosecution, led by State Attorney Daisy Nabasitu and Senior State Attorney Stephen Ariong, has lined up more than 12 witnesses.
Anguyo faces murder charges relating to the deaths of prison officer Bright Akishuri, Sarah Ayebare, Salson Nuwagaba and ASP Hope Catherine.
He also faces two counts of aggravated robbery and a charge of threatening violence.
The prosecution alleges that on February 23, Anguyo robbed a woman at Saza Shops in Kiboga Town Council and used a firearm during the incident.
He is also accused of threatening to shoot or kill ASP Niwagaba at Kiboga Government Prison.
His co-accused – Peter Anziku, also known as Dickson Okwonzi, and Hellen Amviko – are accused of assisting him to evade arrest and prosecution after the killings.
The prosecution alleges that the three assisted Anguyo at different locations between February 23 and March 27, 2026.
The trial continues on Friday, with the prosecution expected to call additional witnesses.