Bar waitress jailed for stealing UGX 77,000 from employer
Ibanda Grade One magistrate’s court has sentenced a bar attendant to Nyabuhikye Prison for six months over stealing UGX 77,000 from her employer.
While appearing before Her Worship Esther Murungi, the accused, Patience Amutuhire, 21, confessed to stealing the money from the counter at Wilbroad Mutabaruka’s NK Bar in Kacwampare, Rugoba in Nyabuhikye sub-county, where she worked as a bar attendant.
Amutuhire claimed she stole the cash from the bar to take her sick mother to hospital.
According to prosecution led by Tian Emmanuel, Amutuhire stole the money belonging to Wilbroad Mutabaruka on the morning of October 9th.
The convict told the court that she had hidden UGX 40,000 under a stone in the yard and UGX 37,000 in her bag. All the cash was recovered and returned to Mutabaruka.
Despite the defendant’s prayers for a deterrent punishment, the magistrate ignored the two months that the convict had prayed for noting that Amutuhire should be removed from the community and go where she can learn skills of self-reliance.
She advised the convict to embrace skills development programmes like handcraft making and weaving during her six-month jail term.
Theft contravenes sections 254(i) and 261 of the Penal Code Act and carries a maximum of 10 years on conviction.
