The General Court Martial in Makindye, Kampala has sentenced two men to 25 years in prison over the aggravated robbery.
Paul Byakatonda, also known as Kagame, 53, a taxi driver on Kampala – Wakaliga road and resident of Kigwanya zone Busega in Rubaga Division was sentenced alongside Robert Kiwuuwa, 39, a businessman dealing in second-hand clothes.
The prosecution proved that on September 18, 2018, at Kirimya junction in Mutukula along Kampala Masaka highway, Byakatonda, Kiwuuwa, and others still at large robbed Hadijah Nabayinda of sh52m.
During or after the said robbery, the duo was in possession of a deadly weapon to wit a gun SMG serial number 19775513305, which is a monopoly of the defence forces.
This is contrary to section 285 and 286 (2) of the penal code act cap 120 and upon conviction a person suffers death as the maximum sentence.
The prosecution’s evidence proved to the court that the two men with others committed the offense when they robbed Nabayinda a businesswoman dealing in maize produce at Mutukula border post.
During mitigation, the convicts through their lawyer Maj Kamanda Mutungi prayed to the court for lenient sentence since they are family men with young children who need their support, they are first offenders, and they do not have any other offence before any court and have been on remand for two years, four months and nine days.
However, Capt Ambrose Guma for the state prayed for a harsh and deterrent sentence since the offence is rampant in court jurisdiction thus these should be punished and serve as an example to would-be offenders.
Byakatonda prayed to the court to look into his years since he is aging (53 years) which the court allowed.
Lt Gen Andrew Gutti, the court chairman said the court has looked into the concerns of both sides and decided that the two to serve 25 years in prison.
He, however, said the court deducted the years the two had spent on remand thus sentencing them to 22 years and seven months.
Gutti further advised them to appeal within 14 days if they are not contented with the sentence.
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