By Lady Heart Tina,
CRIME
A 30-year-old man in Amolatar District in the northern part of Uganda has been sentenced to decades in prison on seven counts of aggrevated robbery.
Musa Okwi, a resident of Oribcan village Namasale county in Amolatar district was sentenced to 2O years for each account of the offence.
Okwi was convicted on his own plea of guilty when he was arraigned before Lira High Court presided over by the Hon justice Duncan Gaswaga, the Lira Resident Judge.
During the ruling, court heard on 11 August 2O19, the suspect who was dressed in militarg attire armed with a toy gun in a company of other people still at large broke into seven homes belonging to Kilimila Kaluku, Moses Oton, Lydia Okeng, Tracy Apio, James Onyanga, Victoria Adyedo and Moses Odongo all located in his neighbourhood, taking several properties using a deadly weapon.
Court found out that on 11th August 2019 Okwi who was dressed in military attire and armed with a toy gun and in the company of other people who are still at large broke into seven different homes belonging to Kilimira Kaluku, Moses Oton, Lydia Okeng, Tracy Apio, James Onyanga, Victoria Adyedo and Moses Odongo all located in his neighborhood.
Court also learnt that the group robbed several items ranging from mobile phones, radios, clothes, beddings and cash from the different homes they invaded.
Fortunately, their victims were able to recognize Okwi and reported the matter to Namasale Police Station which together with the army carried out a joint operation leading to Okwi’s arrest. An army uniform and a toy gun were recovered from his house.
While in Court, Okwi pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness promising to become a better person in future.
Peter Amalo, the prosecutor argued that the Okwi has no lawful excuse or valid defense and should be punished for the crimes he committed.
But Henry Walusimbi, the defense lawyer prayed for leniency from court saying the convict is a first-time offender who acted under the influence of other people who have never been arrested. He argued that blaming the whole offense on the convict would be unfair.
Justice Gaswaga, sentenced him to 20 years for each count of the offense saying such crimes are typical of a serial robber and that it cause a lot of insecurity amongst the people living in the area.
He further argued that since all the stolen items were never recovered, the victims shall face a permanent loss.
“Such offenses are rampant and people whose houses has been intruded in by robbers can never feel like home again. Clearly people of such conduct like the convict need to be isolated for some time not only to allow them to reform but also to enable members of the public feel secure.”
Justice Gaswaga however ordered that the sentences shall run concurrently adding that the time so far spent shall be counted as part of the sentence.
