Ibanda: Two suspected Vanilla thieves remanded
Ibanda chief magistrate’s court has remanded two suspected vanilla thieves to Nyabuhikye government Prison.
Court presided over by his worship Aloysius Natwijuka heard that Edson Abaho, 32, reportedly stole 6kg of fresh vanilla beans worth UGX 240,000 from his employer on December 8th 2022.
Abaho, a resident of Nyakatookye in Kagongo Division, Ibanda Municipality was hired by John Kweyamba as a night guard in his vanilla garden, but the suspect allegedly stole the fresh vanilla beans he was employed to safeguard.
The suspect was arrested by Police on December 10th while trying to sell the beans and charged accordingly.
Ronald Rukundo, of Ibanda town, the would-be-buyer suspected that Abaho could be a thief since it is not yet the harvest season for vanilla and he alerted the Police who laid in wait for him.
Relatedly, Jonah Twinamatsiko, 24, a resident of Mahega II in Kyeikucu, Kagongo Division in Ibanda Municipality also faces two counts of vanilla theft.
Twinamatsiko is suspected to have stolen 30 kilos of fresh vanilla pods valued at about UGX 1.5m from Ivan Tumuhimbise on December 10th.
He also allegedly stole another 20kg of fresh vanilla beans valued at over UGX 1m from a 76-year-old farmer Enos Kakashaari on the same night.
Court heard that the suspect was arrested by Police in neighbouring Kitagwenda district while trying to sell the beans in Kabujogera town council.
The duo’s alleged thefts contravene sections 254(i) and 261 of the Penal Code Act and they are liable to up to 10 years in jail for each count if found guilty.
Both suspects denied the charges while appearing before the chief magistrate’s court and were subsequently remanded to Nyabuhikye prison until January 3rd, 2023 when their cases will come up for hearing.
