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Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The Makindye Magistrates Court has declined to release Shamirah Nakiyemba, the wife of businessman Charles Olim commonly known as Sipapa who wanted to be released temporarily on charges of aggravated robbery.
Sipapa and Nakiyemba were on Monday produced in Court to be updated on the status of investigations into the six charges of aggravated robbery against them. The charges relate to robbery of cash and items from six South Sudan nationals which occurred last month.
As a result, State Attorney Hope Rukundo told the Court presided over by the Chief Magistrate Esther Adikini that investigations into the charges against the couple are still ongoing and prayed for an adjournment to another date.
But on their part, the lawyers representing the accused persons led by Robert Rutaro asked the court to release Nakiyemba temporarily on the basis that she is a breast feeding mother with a five months old baby and that she was operated in the process of giving birth. As such, Rutaro informed the Court that Nakiyemba needs to get special treatment outside the prison and also to go take care of the child.
The Court has heard that when Nakiyemba was arrested, she left the baby under the care of the grandmother who was also recently arrested and is being held reportedly at Kabalagala Police Station. Rutaro added that there is no body to take care of the child at the moment and yet he has to be breast fed.
Lt Gen (rtd) Proscovia Nalweyiso condemns the criminality of Charles alias Sipapa and calls on @PoliceUg to curb this growing criminality and impunity.
VideoCredit:@ubctvuganda
Cc: @MauriceMugisha@ODPPUGANDA @JSCUganda @UPDFspokespersn @jbyabs #ThankYouPoliceUG pic.twitter.com/KPqQHpeIsg— Criminal Investigations Directorate-UPF (@CID1_UG) September 11, 2022
In her ruling, the Magistrate Adikini has allowed Nakiyemba to instead breastfeed while in prison given the circumstances. She has however declined to release Nakiyemba saying that issues of bail can only be heard and determined by the High Court which has the jurisdiction to try the capital offenses against the couple.
Adikini has subsequently further remanded the couple to Luzira prison until October 10th, 2022 as investigations continue.
The Prosecution alleges that Sipapa and Nakiyemba and others still at large during the night of August 29th, 2022 at Bunga Kawuku Makindye Division in Kampala District robbed six South Sudan nationals of different items and cash.
One of the victims Jacob Arok Mul was robbed of 429,000 United States Dollars, (1.6 billion shillings), two mobile phones, an iPhone silver blue in color valued at 3,200 United States Dollars, a Samsung, and a Flat Screen TV 75 inches valued at 4,000 United States Dollars.
It is alleged that on the same night, they robbed from Mary Ateng an iPhone 12 Pro Max Gold in Color valued at 5 million shillings, a Golden belt, and a Golden Chain both valued at 10,000 United States Dollars (38 million shillings) and two gold rings valued at 500 United States Dollars.
The prosecution further alleges that the couple and others still at large robbed from Chol Ateng an iPhone 11 Pro Dark Green in color valued at 800,000 shillings, a Dell laptop, a charger valued at 1,000 USD, and 500,000 cash. The suspects further went ahead and robbed from Deng Arok an Apple Macbook Air Laptop valued at 5 million shillings and an iPhone valued at 5 million shillings.
At the home of another victim Abig Yar, Sipapa and his wife allegedly stole a laptop and an iPhone all valued at 5 million shillings. They also robbed James Manyok of 400,000 shillings.
According to the charges, immediately or after the robbery Sipapa and his wife reportedly used a substance that made all their victims unconscious which made it easier for them to execute their crimes successfully.
Police earlier indicated that most of those items said to have been robbed by the couple were recovered hidden at their home in Kira Municipality in Wakiso District.
The Police further told journalists last week that a report from the DNA tests carried out by their forensics had linked Sipapa to 12 more other cases of robbery.
Sipapa became popular mostly in Kampala city for causing chaos on roads by stopping in the middle of roads or at busy junctions in order to distribute money to crowds. Before and after the contested 2021 presidential elections, Sipapa is said to have occasionally gone to National Unity Platform – NUP offices in Kamwokya and caused chaos by shooting in the air or even at the gate.
At the time of provoking NUP, Sipapa was having military guards. They were however withdrawn early this year after he knocked a driver and threatened to shoot him.
The IGP Martin Ochola ordered his arrest and impounding of his vehicle. However, the IGP’s order were not affected until the robbery at Arok’s home.
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