Musician Mozey Radio killer bid to reduce sentence fails

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The Court of Appeal has upheld the sentence against the man convicted of the manslaughter of popular musician Moses Ssekibogo, also known as Mozey Radio.

Radio was a talented musician, songwriter and performer who left a lasting impact on the music world in Uganda. One half of the GoodLyfe Crew with Weasel, Mowzey's life was cut short on February 1, 2018, following a bar brawl. He was a 15-time Hipipo Music Award winner, winning categories of awards such as Best Duo, Album of the Year, Song of the Year and Best Song Writer.

Justices Christopher Gashirabake, Asa Mugenyi, and John Mike Musisi, in a judgment delivered on June 20, 2025, upheld the High Court’s 2018 conviction and sentence of Godfrey Wamala aka Troy for the manslaughter of Mozey Radio.

Wamala had appealed, claiming the sentence was unduly harsh, but the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal, stating that the sentence imposed by then-High Court judge Jane Frances Abodo, now the Director of Public Prosecutions, was appropriate.

He had also argued that the court relied on contradictory witness testimony, which resulted in a miscarriage of justice and led to a wrongful conviction.

“We, therefore, find the sentence of 12 years, three months and four days imposed by the High Court not manifestly harsh and excessive. We also find that it is consistent with sentences in other similar cases. We therefore uphold it. In the final result, this appeal is dismissed,” Gashirabake said.

According to the judgment, Wamala was involved in a brawl at the Debar in Entebbe, Wakiso district, following an argument. During the altercation, he grabbed Ssekibogo, lifted him horizontally, and slammed him to the ground, causing the victim to suffer a fatal head injury.

The Court of Appeal justices said they could not fault the trial judge, noting that she had taken all the necessary factors into account before sentencing him.

“She considered that the appellant was a first offender and a young man aged 30 years who was capable of reforming. She then handed down a sentence of 14 years, which she considered reformative. She deducted the period spent on remand, leaving a period of 12 years, three months and four days. We cannot fault her on the exercise of her discretion in that regard,” Gashirabake said.