Uganda Cranes fan Uncle Money sentenced to four years in jail for manslaughter

Kampala, Uganda |  THE INDEPENDENT |  Renowned Uganda Cranes Fan Jackson Ssewanyana alias Uncle Money is to spend four years in jail for manslaughter. The Buganda Road Court Chief Magistrate, Miriam Akello Ayo convicted Uncle Money together with Benson Ssenyonga after finding them guilty of causing the unlawful death of Siraje Akim Tumusiime, a former mechanic in Kasubi Zone Four in Kampala district.

Tumusiime died on August 16th 2019 few days after being subjected to mob justice. During the hearing, the court heard that Uncle Money held the deceased by the collar and dragged him on the road towards Royal Hotel in Kasubi before handing him over to a mob led by Ssenyonga.

The mob undressed the deceased and battered with electricity cables after tying his arms together with the legs.  He pleaded with the mob to spare his life in vain. In her judgment, Ayo noted that Uncle Money and Ssenyonga who were serving as the Vice-Chairperson and Defense Secretary of the village respectively ought to have upheld the law but chose to descend on the deceased and tortured him to death on allegations of being a phone thief.

She explained that the testimony of the prosecution witnesses shows that the convict killed the deceased in a very barbaric manner, which should be condemned. In her judgment, Ayo said the convicts deserve a custodial sentence and handed them a four-year jail term. She directed that court refunds the Shillings 2 million they deposited as security for their bail advised the convicts to appeal the decision in a higher court if they are dissatisfied with her judgment.

The State Prosecutor Timothy Amerit had asked court to sentence the convicts to 30 years in jail, arguing that cases of mob justice have been rampant in societies.  However, the convict’s lawyer, Robert Kasozi asked the court to give his clients a lenient sentence on grounds that they are the sole bread winners of their families and first-time offenders, a factor the Magistrate considered while passing her sentence.

Tumusiime’s widow, Joan Natukunda wasn’t happy with the sentence, saying Uncle Money needed to be in jail for the rest of his life such that his family can also have their share of the suffering she is going through. Natukunda, who broke down in court, said her children didn’t lack anything when their father was still alive but are currently struggling to survive.

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