Two men from Bufunda cell in Bufunda Division, Ibanda Municipality, were convicted on September 24, 2024, for shopbreaking and theft by the Ibanda Grade One Magistrate’s Court. Frank Bagumirabingi, 28, and Ambrose Dembe, 24, were found guilty of breaking into a shop owned by Henry Biryomumaisho on Mpiira Road and stealing several items.
On January 27, 2024, Bagumirabingi and Dembe entered the shop under the cover of darkness and made off with a variety of goods, including a television set, sugar, rice, salt, and cooking oil. They believed they had successfully evaded the law, but their fate changed dramatically when Bagumirabingi dropped his mobile phone at the crime scene.
The police were able to trace the phone back to Dembe, who answered a call made to a frequently dialed number. This led the authorities to Bagumirabingi and the recovery of some of the stolen items, which had been sold to a trader on Mpiira Street.
The court found the evidence against the two compelling. The magistrate noted that witness testimonies and other evidence clearly placed them at the scene of the crime. “It is clear the shop was broken into and items therein taken without permission,” the magistrate stated.
During the sentencing hearing, the prosecution, led by Tian Emmanuel, called for the maximum penalties for each charge—eight years for shopbreaking and ten years for theft. “As young people, they should be working for their money rather than stealing from others. I pray that this court sentences the convicts to 18 years, to run consecutively,” Tian added, highlighting that some of the stolen items were still missing.
Biryomumaisho, the shop owner, testified that since the arrest of the two men, there had been no incidents of thieves accessing premises through roof cutting. He requested a lengthy sentence, expressing doubt about the convicts’ likelihood of reform.
In contrast, both Bagumirabingi and Dembe asked the court for leniency, suggesting they would accept a one year jail term. Dembe claimed that he had acquired vocational skills while on remand, indicating a desire to turn his life around.
The court scheduled a return date of October 1 for the final sentencing.
| Details of the Case | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of Conviction | September 24, 2024 |
| Convicts | Frank Bagumirabingi, 28; Ambrose Dembe, 24 |
| Offense | Shopbreaking and theft |
| Shop Owner | Henry Biryomumaisho |
| Items Stolen | TV set, sugar, rice, salt, cooking oil |
| Court | Ibanda Grade One Magistrate’s Court |
| Next Court Date | October 1, 2024 |
