(Ibanda) – Godfrey Nowamani appeared in the Ibanda Grade One Magistrate’s Court on October 29, 2024, where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to stealing clothing and other personal items belonging to Agnes Kapaska on September 26, 2024. When asked to respond to the magistrate’s questions, Nowamani spoke softly and often needed prompting. The court saw a different side of the young man when he asked for leniency, hoping to be with his mother for Christmas.
Prosecutor Tian Emmanuel shared that while some of the stolen clothes, valued at approximately UGX 50,000, were recovered, items worth around UGX 100,000 remain missing. Emmanuel asked the court to both hand down a fitting sentence and order compensation for the unrecovered items.
| Details of Theft Case | Value (UGX) |
|---|---|
| Total Value of Stolen Items | 150,000 |
| Recovered Items Value | 50,000 |
| Unrecovered Items Value | 100,000 |
Nowamani, identified as a repeat offender, had previously been released from jail due to lack of prosecution on unrelated charges. Magistrate Esther Murungi recalled her warning to him to avoid future trouble, explaining that Nowamani now needed prison time to understand the consequences of his actions. She turned down his request for a community service sentence that would allow him to spend Christmas at home.
The magistrate acknowledged Nowamani’s guilty plea and noted that his admission had saved the court’s time. Nonetheless, she ruled that a jail term was necessary to deter similar behavior, sentencing him to six months at Nyabuhikye Prison. This sentence will be reduced by three weeks to account for his time on remand.
The offense falls under sections 237 and 244 of Uganda’s Penal Code Act, which define penalties for theft and similar crimes.
