Boda boda rider sentenced for stealing matooke
Ibanda Grade One magistrate’s court has sentenced a boda boda rider, Wilbroad Balikuddembe, to two months in prison for stealing his neighbour’s bunch of bananas.
While appearing before her worship Esther Murungi, 30-year-old Balikuddembe, from Buhumuriro in Kagongo Division, said he stole the bananas because he never had any money to buy food for his six-year-old hungry child.
Prosecution led by Tian Emmanuel said Balikuddembe stole the bunch of bananas worth UGX 20,000, at the property of Michael Mujurizi of Mabanga on November 9, 2023. He went into hiding, but was arrested last week by Police and charged accordingly.
While sentencing the rider on Tuesday, January 16th, the magistrate said the convict was a first-time offender; had not wasted the court’s time and appeared remorseful.
“You have been convicted on your own plea of guilt for the crime of theft contrary to sections 254 and 261 of the Penal Code Act,” said Murungi.
She however, warned him to desist from crime after prison noting that he would be handed the maximum sentence if he is brought back to court on any crime charges in future.
Theft contravenes sections 254 and 261 of the Penal Code Act, and carries up to 10 years in jail upon conviction.
