UGANDA: Man serving death given life sentence

By Fahad Jjingo and Gertrude Mutyaba.

A prisoner serving a death sentence has been sentenced to life imprisonment for killing an inmate in Masaka prison cells.

Samuel Kalyamaggwa Bbumba, 32, who was convicted of murder by Justice Moses Mukiibi in 2007 and was still waiting for his execution, reportedly killed Joseph Kasirye on April 13, 2010.

Masaka High Court Judge Margaret Oumo Oguli read the sentence on Tuesday.

Prosecution led by Mr Moses Onencan told court that on April 13, 2010 while in Masaka Prison, Bbumba picked a piece of firewood and hit Kasirye, who was the head of inmates (Katikkiro) as he prepared lunch.

Bbumba reportedly accused Kasirye of reporting him to authorities that he was a habitual smoker of bhang inside the cells.

Kasirye reportedly bled to death on the way to hospital. 

Kalyamaggwa, who was represented by Mr Herbert Zikusooka, denied killing Kasirye. He even denied ever smoking bhang, saying they used to dope ‘ordinary tobacco’.

While passing the judgment Justice Oguli based on evidence that was adduced by Sgt William Atiku and Mr Ssalongo Mukasa, an inmate, who testified that Kalyamagwa killed Kasirye and a medical report which indicated that the deceased had died of excessive bleeding.

Mr Zikusooka asked court for lenience, claiming that his client had a wife and three children to take care of. He also said his client was remorseful about the acts and meant to change for the better.

Justice Oguli said considering the three years the convict has spent on remand and since he was remorseful for his acts she decided to sentence him to life so that to other people do not commit similar crime.

Source: Daily Monitor (28/03/2013): http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/Man-serving-death-given-life-sentence/-/688334/1732050/-/g28mow/-/index.html