The Court of Appeal has decided to uphold the 12-year, 3-month prison sentence of Godfrey Wamala, also known as Troy, for the tragic manslaughter of the beloved Ugandan music star, Moses Ssekibogo, fondly known as Mowzey Radio.
On June 20, 2025, Wamala’s appeal was rejected against both his conviction and sentence wasn’t enough to change the trial judge’s solid decision backed by strong evidence.
This ruling came from a panel of justices including Christopher Gashirabake, Dr. Asa Mugenyi, and John Mike Musisi.
Mowzey Radio, a co-founder of the Goodlyfe Crew, was one of East Africa’s most cherished musicians. He sadly passed away on February 1, 2018, at just 33 years old, after suffering serious head injuries in a confrontation at De Bar in Entebbe on January 22, 2018.
The court showed that Wamala had caused the injuries by slamming the singer to the ground, a situation that shocked the music community and fans in Uganda.
Initially sentenced to 14 years for manslaughter, Wamala’s time was adjusted to 12 years and 3 months after taking into account the time he spent in custody before the trial.
In his appeal, filed as Criminal Appeal No. 361 of 2019, he contended that there were inconsistencies in the evidence and that his sentence was too severe.
Wamala was arrested by police at a friend’s house in Kyengera, where he had sought refuge after the incident.
However, the appeal found his claims unconvincing, reaffirming the trial decision based on reliable witness testimonies.
Key witnesses, Pamela Musimire and David Otim, consistently testified that Wamala was responsible for the fall that led to Mowzey Radio’s injuries, countering his defense argument.
Mowzey Radio’s passing hit hard, with heartfelt tributes coming in from fans and fellow artists. His influence on Ugandan music and a nomination for a BET Award in 2013 have firmly placed his legacy in the hearts of many.
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