A 48 year old resident, Vincent Tumuhereze of Nyamuswiga, Kashangura in Kagongo Division, Ibanda Municipality, stood stoically as his fate was sealed in a courtroom scene at Ibanda Grade One Magistrate’s Court . Having been convicted of housebreaking and theft charges, Tumuhereze faced the stern judgment of the court for his actions.
The court confirmed that Tumuhereze committed the crime on June 27, 2023, at Karindiriro Kashangura, where he unlawfully entered Mildred Kamasanyu’s residence and pilfered groundnuts valued at shillings 100,000. Following an extensive trial, the court found Tumuhereze guilty of the offenses, resulting in a sentence of three years in jail for each count. These sentences would run consecutively, one after the other.
During the sentencing, Magistrate Esther Murungi emphasized Tumuhereze’s lack of remorse despite the overwhelming evidence presented against him. “I sentence you to three years in prison on each count, deducting the eight months you have spent on remand. This serves as an example to those seeking to profit unjustly,” she declared, affirming the consecutive nature of the sentences.
Despite Tumuhereze’s plea for a nine-month jail term, the prosecution, led by Emmanuel Tian, advocated for the maximum sentence of 17 years. Tian argued that while Tumuhereze was a first-time offender, his prolongation of the trial wasted the court’s time, warranting a severe sentence to deter future offenders.
Meanwhile, Mildred Kamasanyu, the victim, chose not to comment on the ruling, though she had attended all court proceedings with a smile on her face.
