A 45-year-old man named Elisha Masulubu has been handed a 17-year prison sentence for aggravated robbery. The verdict was delivered by Honorable Justice Emmy Vicent Mugabo at the High Court in Kasese. According to the court proceedings, on June 6th, 2017, Masulubu, along with accomplices who remain at large, held Mr. Badru Kule at gunpoint in Saluti B Cell, Kasese Municipality, and stole 15 million shillings from him.
During the trial, Counsel Mishele Godfrey, the lawyer representing the accused, appealed to the court for leniency, citing Masulubu’s status as a first-time offender and his potential for rehabilitation due to his relatively young age.
In delivering the judgment, Honorable Justice Vicent Emmy Mugabo acknowledged the prevalence of aggravated robbery cases and emphasized the need for a deterrent punishment. The court decided to reduce the period that Masulubu had already spent on remand, resulting in a sentence of ten years, ten months, and 15 days. Additionally, the court ordered Masulubu to compensate Mr. Badru Kule with 15 million shillings within one year. Failure to comply would result in an extension of his sentence by another year.
Responding to the verdict, Mr. Badru Kule expressed satisfaction with the fairness of the court’s decision. He shared with a local radio station that on the day of the incident, June 6th, 2017, he had been seen by the accused while receiving a sum of money. To his surprise, his acquaintance was leading a group of armed robbers who then stole his 15 million shillings.
In a separate case, the same court remanded two suspects, Tusiime Alex and Byaruhanga Justus, who were accused of both aggravated robbery and murder. The charges against them stemmed from an incident on December 14th, 2016, in Kabwohe town council. It was reported that they attacked the local chairperson, stole his car, and later abandoned it near Mbarara City. The court also heard that on December 28th, 2016, the suspects targeted Bam petrol station in Sheema district, where they shot and killed a security guard before escaping with his firearm. Furthermore, they were accused of shooting two anti-terrorism police officers in Kasese, seizing their weapons, and stealing two million shillings from Simba Hotel along the Kikorongo-Bwera highway.
Counsel Chans Masereka, the defense lawyer representing the accused in this case, informed the court that the state planned to present its final witness from the Forensic department that morning. The government had already produced two police officers as state witnesses in the ongoing trial.
