23-year-old sentenced for stealing mats from mosque
Grade One magistrate’s court in Ibanda has sentenced 23-year-old Muzafaru Ahimbisibwe to 10 days of community service for stealing mats from a mosque.
While appearing before her worship Esther Murungi on Tuesday, March 19th, Ahimbisibwe, who hails from Kagadi district, confessed to stealing six mats from his place of worship at Yusuf Katonyamu Mosque in Katooma, Kagongo Division in Ibanda Municipality during the night of January 26th.
The 23-year-old was subsequently convicted and sentenced by the court for the crimes of breaking into the Mosque and stealing seven mats valued at UGX 490,000.
Muzafaru Ahimbisibwe who was convicted for stealing mats from a mosque.
The magistrate sentenced him to five days of community service for each offence, which will run consecutively; one after the other.
Ahimbisibwe who was ordered to apologize to Katooma Mosque members, was also cautioned and given a suspended sentence of 12 months in default of the community service orders.
Prosecution led by Emmanuel Tian had prayed to court for a deterrent punishment, saying his actions were an abuse to “religion that is recognized by laws of Uganda”.
The convict had prayed for leniency, saying he had learnt his lesson from the time spent on remand at Nyabuhikye Prison.
The convict faced up to 17 years for both crimes; seven for burglary and 10 years for theft.
During the same sitting, Thomson Karugaba was also sentenced to four days of community service after he confessed to have stolen two bunches of bananas worth UGX 30,000 from Nyakateete Primary School banana plantation on January 2.
