Lydia Draru, the woman who confessed to having killed former army commander, Maj Gen James Kazini has finally walked out of Luzira prison.
Draru, served her 14-year-sentence after High Court convicted her of manslaughter when she killed Gen Kazini.
Reading her judgement, Justice Monica Mugenyi acquitted Draru of the charge of murder but instead found her guilty of the lesser charge of manslaughter that carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
The judge then agreed with Draru and her lawyers: Annet Mutabingwa and Musa Sembajja, who maintained throughout the trial that she did not intend to kill Kazini but acted in self defence.
Draru repeatedly hit Kazini with an iron bar.
On November 10, 2009, Gen. Kazini was found dead in a pool of blood at Namuwongo Project Zone, Wabigalo in Makindye Division, Kampala.
Draru who was a girlfriend to the former army commander admitted to having killed him.
She had served two years on remand by the time of being sentenced to 14 years.
Draru was released few months ago and she is reported to be in Kampala engaged in business.
When contacted for a comment over the matter, Uganda Prisons Service Spokesperson, Frank Baine confirmed Draru’s release.
“Yes, it is true. She is out. She served her sentence” Mr Baine said.
Maj Gen Kazini, 52, was hit with a metal pipe on the head and collapsed dead in the doorway.
After realising the enormity of her act, a confused 28-year-old Draru dashed out of the house, wailing:
“I have killed him! I have killed him! I have killed Kazini, call the police!”
Boda boda riders at a stage outside her house in Namuwongo Project Zone thought Draru had run amok while others thought she was intoxicated.
But the boda boda riders who rushed to her house were shocked to find a body of a man sprawled in Draru’s sitting room.
The boda boda riders called 999 which was received at Central Police Station (CPS), Kampala, who in turn informed the police at Kisugu Police Post in Namuwongo.
Police rushed to the scene and quickly cordoned off the house and locked the gate as an inquisitive crowd gathered outside.
At the scene, the officer in-charge of Kisugu police post quickly moved Draru and her cousin Proscovia Tobaru, who had witnessed the scuffle, from the scene to the safety of the police post.
