Isma Kaabi, a 30-year-old facing a potential three-year jail term for escaping from lawful custody, has admitted to his offense before the Ibanda chief magistrate’s court. The court sentenced him to a 300,000 Shilling fine, rejecting his request for community service.
Kaabi, who had spent six months in detention at Nyabuhikye Prison, expressed his desire to care for his children, as their mother had abandoned them. However, his plea for a lenient punishment was met with a fine instead.
The presiding magistrate, Her Worship Winfred Naigaga Kyobiika, explained, “I can’t give you community service because escaping from lawful custody is a very serious crime. I, therefore, sentenced you to a fine of 300,000 Shillings. Failure to pay will result in a six-month imprisonment.” The magistrate acknowledged Kaabi’s remorse, noting that his guilty plea had saved the court’s time.
The prosecution, led by Ali Ssemakula, had sought a punitive penalty to serve as a deterrent to others. They argued that despite Kaabi’s lack of a criminal record, his escape from lawful custody was a serious offense, warranting a substantial punishment.
The case revolved around Kaabi’s escape from the Ibanda University Police post on April 20, where he was held for alleged theft of a mobile phone. He revealed that he took advantage of a loose iron sheet in the cell’s roof to make his escape, and the police officers were unaware of the breach. He managed to flee, saying, “I put aside slowly, jumped down, and ran away.”
Days later, he was apprehended and charged with escape from lawful custody, a violation of section 109 of the Penal Code Act.
Kaabi’s escape is part of a troubling trend in Ibanda, with several detainees successfully evading their captors. Johnson Kamukama, in particular, has managed to escape from two different prisons – Nyabuhikye Prison and Kiburara Prison Farm – within the same year. In February, he escaped from Nyabuhikye, leading to his rearrest and subsequent placement in Kiburara Prison, only to escape again in June. His latest escape earned him a two-year jail term, in addition to his previous sentence.
