Sipapa, wife charged with 13 counts of robbery and money laundering

Summary:

• Socialite Sipapa and his wife face charges of aggravated robbery and money laundering in Kampala, with forensic evidence tying them to the alleged crimes involving the robbery of South Sudanese nationals, leading to their remand until January 2024.

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Socialite Charles Olimi, widely recognized as Sipapa, and his spouse Shamila Nakiyemba faced formal charges in the High Court on Wednesday, accused of 13 counts involving aggravated robbery and money laundering. Standing before High Court Judge Michael Elubu in the Criminal Division, the couple entered pleas of not guilty to all charges.

In the courtroom, three prosecutors—Senior State Attorney Timothy Amerit, Chief State Attorney Edward Muhumuza, and State Attorney Joy Kahayiyi—acting on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, delivered an opening statement. They expressed their intent to present forensic evidence linking the accused pair to the crime scenes.

Defended by Lawyers Henry Kunya and Susan Wakabala, Sipapa and Nakiyemba requested access to CCTV footage from both Sipapa’s residence and the complainant’s home (a South Sudanese national). They sought footage specifically from August 29th, 2022, the date of the alleged crime.

In response, the Prosecution proposed a joint analysis of the CCTV footage, a request granted by the court with a stipulated completion timeframe of seven days. The court appointed two assessors, Juliet Kasiidwa and Joseph Wasidi, for this purpose. Sipapa faces all 13 charges, while Nakiyemba is accused of five counts of aggravated robbery and three counts of money laundering.

The case has been adjourned until January 17th, 2024, for mention. Subsequently, Justice Elubu will schedule a hearing date after confirming the analysis of the CCTV footage. Sipapa and his wife are set to spend their second Christmas in prison, having been remanded until the next court date.

The allegations stem from an incident on August 29th, 2022, in Bunga Kawuku, Makindye Division, Kampala District, where Sipapa, Nakiyemba, and unidentified accomplices reportedly robbed six South Sudanese nationals of possessions and cash. Victims, including Jacob Arok Mul, allegedly lost substantial amounts, such as US$429,000, mobile phones, and electronics. The prosecution contends that Sipapa and Nakiyemba, along with others, targeted additional individuals, robbing them of valuables and leaving some victims unconscious.

Investigations led to the recovery of stolen items at the couple’s residence in Kira Municipality, Wakiso District, linked to reported robberies. Police forensic analysis reportedly connected Sipapa to 12 additional robbery cases. Sipapa gained notoriety in Kampala for causing disruptions and engaging in altercations at the National Unity Platform (NUP) offices, leading to his arrest after a reported robbery incident.

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