High Court judge Flavia Anglin Ssenoga has sentenced Muhammad Ssebuwufu to 60 years in prison for the murder of Betty Donnah Katushabe in October 2015.
It’s alleged that Katushabe was kidnapped and tortured at Ssebuwufu’s Pine car bond on Lumumba Avenue in Kampala because she had defaulted on Shs9m meant for a car she had bought from the dealer.
In her ruling, Ssenoga said, “The deceased was tortured, robbed and killed yet the matter over a debt could have been settled amicably. This shows the crime was not accidental but rather premeditated and each of the convicts played a role. The convicts had sufficient time since the abduction from home in the morning to reflect on their actions but they didn’t find it in their hearts to repent and settle the matter amicably,” she added.
She eventually sentenced Ssebuwuufu, Godfrey Kayiza, Philip Mirambe, Paul Tasingika, Yoweri Kitayimba, Damaseni Ssentongo and Shaban Odutu to 40 years imprisonment for murder. Since they were also found guilty of aggravated robbery and kidnap with intent to murder, the judge added them another 20 years.
The convicts had been jointly accused with Aaron Baguma, the former Kampala CPS DPC. His charges were dropped without reason.
The judge also sentenced, Stephen Lwanga, who was a special hire driver to seven years imprisonment for being an accessory to the murder.
All the eight convicts were also ordered to pay a fine of Shs100M to the family of the deceased to cater for the loss they occasioned to them.
Senoga concluded and said, “By giving such sentences, the court wishes to send a strong message that disputes should be settled amicably and not violently. No one should always take the law into their hands.”
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