The Court of Appeal has confirmed the sentence for Mozey Radio killer Troy, bringing closure to a legal battle that followed one of Uganda’s most tragic celebrity deaths. Godfrey Wamala, also known as Troy, will serve 12 years and three months in prison for the killing of celebrated musician Moses Ssekibogo, known by his stage name Mozey Radio.
Three justices—Christopher Gashirabake, Dr Asa Mugenyi, and John Mike Musisi—reviewed the appeal and unanimously dismissed it. They agreed that the High Court properly convicted Wamala of manslaughter.
Wamala had asked the appellate court to quash both his conviction and sentence. He pointed to inconsistencies in the prosecution’s case and described the sentence as overly harsh. The court, however, found no merit in his claims.
Mozey Radio, a founder of the Goodlyfe Crew, suffered fatal injuries after Wamala violently slammed him onto a concrete floor during a fight at De Bar in Entebbe on January 22, 2018. Days later, the musician died at Case Clinic in Kampala.
Eyewitnesses Pamela Musimire and David Otim (also known as Washington) both identified Wamala as the attacker. The judges found their accounts clear and reliable. They ruled that Wamala’s actions directly caused Radio’s death.
The court rejected Wamala’s argument about poor lighting in the bar. Although witnesses described the source of light differently, all confirmed the area was well lit. The court found that lighting conditions did not prevent proper identification.
Wamala admitted he was at the bar during the incident. However, he fled immediately afterward, leaving behind his personal items. The judges concluded that his flight and disappearance showed a guilty conscience rather than innocent behavior.
Wamala’s lawyer urged the court to reduce the sentence to five years. He cited similar manslaughter cases, including Uganda v Kamyuka Ivan and Elungat Grace Naptal v Uganda. Despite this, the judges insisted that Wamala’s sentence fit the crime.
They noted that Wamala inflicted severe injuries on Radio’s head by slamming him onto a concrete surface. That level of violence and the resulting trauma justified a longer sentence. The court emphasized that Wamala’s 12-year term was neither harsh nor excessive.
By delivering this ruling under Criminal Appeal No. 361 of 2019, the court brought an end to a case that captivated the country. Mozey Radio’s death devastated his fans and shook the music industry. Many Ugandans view the judgment as long-overdue justice.
READ: Dangerous Loading of Commuter Taxis Sparks Police Crackdown
