Landlady remanded for locking tenant, child inside rental in Mbarara
Many tenants that live close to or share premises with their landlords report report intrusive behaviour from their landlords. PHOTOs/unsplash.com.
What you need to know:
- “What she did to me was very cruel. Imagine locking me inside the house when she knew I was sick. I pray that she be denied bail, and we start hearing the case until justice is done,” Mr Shohoe.
A 27-year-old woman has been remanded to Mbarara Main Prison by the Grade One Magistrate’s Court for allegedly locking up a tenant and his child inside their rental unit.
The court heard that on April 27, 2025, at GBK House Apartments in Mbarara City, Ms Peace Kamarembo allegedly confined Mr Shaay Shohole, 43, and his three-year-old son, a child with floppy cerebral palsy and epilepsy, inside their home.
Mr Shohole narrated that the landlady had not issued any rent demand notice but locked the house just seven days into the new month. He added that the landlady had only informed him that she wanted to "use the house for other things.”
Appearing before Grade One Magistrate Ms Sheebah Nasasira on Monday, June 23, 2025, the accused admitted to the act but claimed it was unintentional.
“It is true I locked them inside the house, but I did not know that he was inside,” Ms Kamarembo said in her defense.
Mr Davis Aruho, who led the prosecution, requested that the case proceed since the accused was present in court.
“The suspect is in court, so I pray the court proceeds with the matter,” he submitted.
Mr Shohole narrated to court the ordeal he and his son endured that day.
“I was locked inside my house when I had to meet a doctor, and that day I missed [the appointment]. My son developed further complications after suffocating,” he said.
Mr Shaay Shohole, 43, and his three-year-old son. PHOTO/JOVITA KYARISIIMA
He added that he managed to call a friend, who discovered a padlock on the door and alerted police. Officers arrived shortly after and freed the father and child.
When asked by the court if he was comfortable with Ms Kamarembo receiving bail, Mr Shohole firmly objected.
“What she did to me was very cruel. Imagine locking me inside the house when she knew I was sick. I pray that she be denied bail, and we start hearing the case until justice is done,” he pleaded.
The magistrate remanded Ms Kamarembo until June 26, 2025, when the case will return for further hearing and consideration of bail.
“You are remanded up to June 26, 2025, when your case comes up for further hearing and bail application,” Magistrate Nasasira ruled.
