(Kampala) – Two men, Shakur Kamada Mugabi and Herbert Lukwago, were sentenced to 49 years in prison by the High Court in Kampala on Tuesday, November 12, after being convicted of kidnapping and killing Generous Charity Kyohirwe in 2018. The court ruled that the two men had committed a grave crime that shocked the nation and caused severe trauma to the victim’s family.
Judge Alex Mackay Ajiji, in his ruling, stated that the sentence was meant to serve as a deterrent, ensuring that such crimes do not happen again and that the perpetrators are kept away from society. The court heard testimonies from eight witnesses who provided evidence supporting the convictions of the accused.
The men were found guilty of being involved in the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Kyohirwe, who was abducted by the duo in 2018. This was not the first time that either of the two men had been involved in such crimes. Kamada had been convicted three previous times for similar offenses, while Lukwago had been convicted once before.
The judge also noted the profound impact of the crime on the victim’s family, particularly the emotional and psychological trauma inflicted on them. “It is disheartening that many young girls were targeted and deprived of their youthful life,” Justice Ajiji said in his judgment. “Their families were left in shock and shambles by this heinous act.”
In court, the defense lawyer, Sylvia Namawejje, requested a lighter sentence, arguing that the two men had shown signs of reform during their time in remand. However, Judge Ajiji dismissed this argument, emphasizing that it was the responsibility of the prison authorities to ensure that criminals undergo reform. He stressed that leniency was not appropriate for such severe offenses.
Chief State Attorney Irene Nakimbugwe, who represented the prosecution, had argued that the two men deserved the death penalty for their crimes. She said that they posed a significant danger to society and should be removed permanently. However, the judge ultimately decided on a 49-year sentence, to run concurrently, for each of the convicted men.
The prosecution provided key evidence in the form of witness testimonies, one of which came from Godwin Ahebwa, the brother of the deceased. Ahebwa told the court how his sister was kidnapped, and the kidnappers contacted their mother, demanding a ransom of 5 million shillings for her release. The family managed to send 2 million shillings, but the kidnappers switched off their phones and told them to check Mulago Mortuary for the body.
On March 24, 2018, Ahebwa went to Mulago Hospital and identified his sister’s body, which had been registered under a false name. This tragic event was part of a broader wave of kidnappings and murders that shocked the nation between 2018 and 2019.
