Woman jailed 18 months for vehicle theft at Aponye’s burial

Kabale, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Businesswoman, Shamim Bitariho, has been handed one year and six months in jail after pleading guilty to stealing a motor vehicle belonging to Kigezi Diocese at the burial of the late Apollo Nyegamahe alias Aponye in Rukiga district. Batariro, a resident of Ruhinja village in Wakiso district, admitted to stealing a grey Suzuki vehicle with registration number UAT 478N on July 12, 2023.

The vehicle had transported clerics from Kikungiri Archdeaconry, led by Archdeacon Venerable Canon Amos Tweteise, to the burial service in Kitaburaza village, Muhanga town council. She made a stopover in Rubare town before continuing her journey at night. However, her luck ran out when she was intercepted by police at the Nyeihanga town council checkpoint around 10:00 p.m. Batariro was initially taken to Rwampara police station in Rwampara district and later transferred to Rukiga, where the case originated.

During her arrest, Bitariho was found in possession of nine vehicle master keys, five sticks of marijuana, 500,000 Shillings in cash, 2 trays of eggs, and traditional herbs wrapped in dry banana fibers. She was first detained at Rwampara police station and later transferred to Rukiga police station until July 18, 2023, when she was brought before the court and charged with stealing a motor vehicle valued at 17.7 million Shillings, contravening sections 254 and 265 of the Penal Code Act.

Appearing before the Kabale Chief Magistrate, Derrick Byamugisha on Tuesday, Batariho requested a private talk with the plaintiffs. During this meeting with Rev Canon Tweteise and Rev Canon Nkurunungi who represented Kigezi diocese, she pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness. She explained that her health had deteriorated during her two-month remand since she was HIV positive.

Batariho claimed that she was unaware the vehicle was stolen because it had been given to her by a man named Sula Sekasi from Kampala, who instructed her to drive it to the Diocese headquarters. However, the church representatives, informed Batariro that they had no authority to decide her fate, as she was under state jurisdiction, despite her admission of guilt.

Byamugisha handed a one-year and six-month sentence to Batariho at Ndorwa government prison, stating that she had not wasted the court’s time. Byamugisha also returned 480,000 Shillings to Batariro to assist her during her sentence. Rev Canon Milton Nkurunungi, the Secretary of Kigezi Diocese welcomed the ruling and urged members of the public to refrain from engaging in criminal activities.

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