High Connections Or Justice? Here’s Why Kanyamunyu Was Released From Jail After Confirming That He Shot Akena Dead

Kampala businessman Matthew Kanyamunyu has completed his sentence for the 2016 shooting death of child rights activist Kenneth Akena and has now been released.

Kanyamunyu admitted to causing Akena’s death during a scuffle following a motor accident on November 12, 2016, leading to his manslaughter charge. His plea bargain reduced the murder charge to manslaughter by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

His Burundian girlfriend, Cynthia Munwangari, present during the incident, had charges withdrawn by the DPP, while Kanyamunyu was sentenced for manslaughter on November 12, 2020.

Originally serving five years and one month, Kanyamunyu was released after three years and five months with remission, following standard procedures.Uganda Prisons authorities confirmed his release on Friday morning.

Speaking on Friday, the prisons spokesperson said whereas Kanyamunyu had been sentenced to five years and one-month sentence and he would be released in December 2025, they had deducted remission time.

“Some days are awarded to a hardworking and disciplined prisoner and this is an entitlement for prisoners sentenced beyond one month. Kanyamunyu benefitted from this remission and his earliest period of discharge landed him today, April, 12, 2024.” said Frank Baine, spokesperson for the Uganda Prisons Service.

“He is being integrated back into society after serving his punishment, We are optimistic he will not re-offend.” Baine stated Kanyamunyu’s release followed standard procedures for any prisoner.” He Added.

He pleaded guilty to manslaughter in November 2020, prompting the withdrawal of murder charges against Munwangari. Initially denying murder charges, Kanyamunyu changed his plea to guilty in August as evidence mounted.

Kanyamunyu’s murder charge was reduced to manslaughter through plea bargaining. His lawyer, Peter Kabatsi, stated Kanyamunyu accepted responsibility for unlawfully causing Akena’s death on November 12, 2016.

“Therefore he has accepted before court that on the 12th November 2016 at Kampala Jinja Highway he unlawfully caused the death of Kenneth Akena. On the fateful day, Kanyamunyu and Akena got involved in a motor accident which resulted into a scuffle and Kanyamunyu shot Akena in the chest,” his lawyer Peter Kabatsi said then.

“Kanyamunyu is aged 43 years and he is a first offender, after shooting him, he realised the gravity of his actions and rushed the deceased to hospital where he told the doctors what had happened and attempted to save his life. He sought out the deceased’s family and community leaders and asked for forgiveness. He suffers from hypertension; he is a single parent to 4 minor children.”

Justice Stephen Mubiru considered Kanyamunyu’s first-time offender status and his assistance to the victim in sentencing. The court accepted his bargain of six years imprisonment, reduced by 11 months to serve five years.

He reportedly sought reconciliation with Akena’s family through Acholi cultural leaders and elders, aligning with the traditional justice practice of “mato-oput” and potentially influencing his guilty plea.