19-year-old gets a nine-month jail term for stealing matooke
The Ibanda grade one magistrate’s court has sentenced a 19-year-old man to nine months in jail at Nyabuhikye Prison for stealing three bunches of bananas from a neighbour.
It is alleged that Prosper Nuwabasa, a resident of Rugarama in Nyarukika, Rukiri in Ibanda district, stole bananas from John Byensi’s plantation on September 18th and run away from the village.
The suspect, Nuwabasa was arrested by the Police on October 6 upon his return to the village and subsequently charged.
While appearing before her worship Esther Murungi on November 1st , Nuwabasa pleaded guilty to the offence and was consequently convicted and sentenced by the court on his own plea of guilt.
While sentencing him, the magistrate said the prison term would serve as a lesson to others who want to reap what they did not sow.
Nuwabasa’s sentence will be less the time he has spent on remand.
Byensi, who said the three bunches of bananas were valued at UGX 60,000 prayed to court to give the convict a deterrent sentence, saying his bananas were disappearing mysteriously.
The offence of theft contravenes sections 254(i) and 261 of the Penal Code Act and carries a maximum of five years in prison on conviction.
