Four convicted over Shs500m robbery, await punishment

KAMPALA: Four people who have been on remand over aggravated robbery of Shs500 million from a Forex Bureau in Kampala have been convicted.
The accused persons; Mr Moses Kasiita, Henry Kabugo, Jolly Lubega and Sulaiman Waisswa on Monday confessed committing the crime after spending three years on remand.
Through their lawyer Lt. Brian Moogi, the accused persons pleaded for lenience before Makindye General Court Martial chaired by Lt. Gen. Andrew Gutti.

“The convicts are sole bread winners of their families; they have pleaded guilty at no cost. One of them, Kabugo has suffered grave illness while on remand; Lubega and Waisswa were not at the scene of crime as prosecution said. We pray that you (court) consider all those factors and award the convicts a lenient sentence,” Lt Moogi pleaded.
The convicted persons had appeared before the army court for hearing of prosecution evidence.
Charged and remanded since 2016, the accused persons applied to court to change their plea.

Prosecution case
Court heard that on March 3, 2015, around Eso corner on Jinja road in Kampala District, the convicts stole Shs525million from Mr Made Male Kalembe of Spot forex bureau.
Evidence on court record states that the accused persons threatened to use a fire arm which is a monopoly of the defence forces.
In a separate charge, Mr Kabugo was also convicted of aggravated robbery of airtime worth Shs132million and other accessories from a mobile money agent in the Kampala city center.
Mr Kabugo confessed committing the crime after spending two years on remand.

Prosecution told court that on May 1 2013, Kabugo and others still at large on Nakivubo Green street in Kampala District, stole airtime worth Shs100million, calculator, books of accounts and keys from Sunday Venancio. He also stole airtime worth Shs32milion from Eddy Mukasa and then they threatened to use a fire arm (AK47) which is a monopoly of the defence forces.

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