Kitatta handed eight year jail term

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The General court martial has sentenced Abdallah Kitatta, the patron of Boda boda 2010 and his bodyguard, Sowali Ngobi to 8 years in jail for illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.

The General Court martial chairperson, Lt. General Andrew Gutti delivered the judgment in the Makindye based court this morning.

He said the convicts will serve eight years, eight month and six days concurrently in prison.

Reading the judgment, Gen. Gutti said court had considered the mitigation factors raised by the Defense lawyer, Shaban Sanywa and submissions by the prosecutor Lt. Col Raphael Mugisha and found that that a sentence of eight years, eight months, and six days is appropriate for each of their two offences.

He also said court also considered fifteen months and some days the convicts spent on remand, the fact that they didn’t have criminal records and that they are sole bread winners of their families.

According to Gutti, court also considered the fact that the guns recovered from the convicts were never used to commit any crime.

On Ngobi, Gutti said court also considered the fact that he has served the country diligently as a detective in Uganda Police Force.

Prosecution had asked court to give the convicts the maximum sentence so as to deter other people from committing such crimes. It had observed that such offenses have become rampant in society.  Kitatta, who looked composed in the dock together with Ngobi, broke down in tears when the judgment was translated in Luganda.

The sentencing of the duo follows their conviction on Monday. The military court found Kitatta and Ngobi guilty of unlawful possession of firearms and ammunition.

Kitatta was convicted for illegal possession of a golden pistol and ammunitions while Ngobi was convicted for unlawful possession of a Sub Machine Gun with a fully loaded magazine.

The same court acquitted the suspect’s co accused who had been charged with unlawful possession of military stores including head gears and caps.

They are Amon Twinomujuni, John Ssebandeke, Fred Bwanika, Hassan Sebata,  Matia Ssenfuka,  Hussein Mugema, Ibrahim Ssekaja,  Joel Kibirige. Kitatta and Ngobi’s lawyer Sanywa have promised to appeal conviction and sentence.

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