Police in Kazo district are searching for unknown thieves who stole a cow from Aston Nsiima, the Kazo Town Council National Resistance Movement’s Registrar and Vice Chairman. The incident occurred on Monday morning in Byeshembe Ward when Nsiima went to milk the cow and could not find it in the farm.

After a brief search, the cow’s remains were discovered along the Ibanda-Rushere road where it had been slaughtered and its parts removed. Nsiima valued the cow at Shs 5 million, considering its milk productivity and overall condition. He noted that this was a new trend in the area as the meat was stripped from the bones, leaving them and the unborn calf behind.

Nsiima urged residents to unite against this growing issue while locals called on authorities to intervene and help combat cattle theft in the area.

The Ibanda Grade One Magistrate’s Court has sentenced two individuals to significant periods of incarceration for the offenses of shop breaking and theft.

Frank Bagumirabingi and Ambrose Dembe, both residents of Bufunda cell in Bufunda Division, Ibanda Municipality, were sentenced by Her Worship Magistrate Esther Murungi. Bagumirabingi, 28, received a sentence of 28 months for shop breaking and an additional 28 months for theft, to be served consecutively. Dembe, 24, was sentenced to nine months for each count, also to be served consecutively.

The custodial sentences will be reduced by the eight months the convicts had already spent on remand at Nyabuhikye Prison, as stipulated by the court.

It is notable that the sentences imposed were significantly less than those sought by the prosecution. Prosecutor, Tian Emmanuel had argued for the maximum allowable sentences of eight years for shop breaking and ten years for theft for each defendant.

Both defendants were found guilty of breaking into the shop owned by Henry Biryomumaisho on Mpiira Road in Ibanda Town on January 27 from which they stole several items, including a television set, sugar, rice, salt and cooking oil.

Following the sentencing, Biryomumaisho, the complainant expressed that he found the sentences to be “fair.”

The Ibanda Grade I Magistrate’s Court convicted 20-year-old Herbert Twinomuhangi for breaking into a teacher’s house and stealing her money. Twinomuhangi, from Kafunjo I cell in Bufunda Division pleaded guilty to the charges before the Grade One Magistrate, Esther Murungi on October 1. He has been remanded to Nyabuhikye Prison until October 22.

On July 8, Twinomuhangi broke into the home of the 42-year-old primary school teacher, Alice Asiimwe and stole sh310,000. A neighbor witnessed him leaving the house and informed Asiimwe, who reported the incident to the Police. Twinomuhangi was arrested weeks later when he resurfaced.

After pleading guilty, Twinomuhangi claimed he found the door open and took only sh290,000 that was on the table in Asiimwe’s sitting room. Housebreaking carries a maximum penalty of eight years while theft can result in up to ten years in prison.

The Ibanda magistrate’s court has sentenced four family heads to community service due to lack of latrines in their homes. On October 1, 2023, Vital Akankwatsa (28) from Rwobuzizi, Richard Nuwabiine (30), Nicholas Gumisiriza (50), and Nasitario Bainoha (30) from Karushambya were each ordered to complete one day of community service at the court premises.

Magistrate Esther Murungi stressed the importance of constructing latrines and warned individuals that they must build these facilities within two weeks. Failure to comply could result into their arrest and a potential six-month imprisonment.

Isaac Mugobi, a senior law enforcement officer in the municipality had called for a sentence that would serve as a deterrent to other residents highlighting the need for compliance to protect public health. The four men were arrested by the Ibanda Municipality law enforcement team after it was discovered that their homes were a public health risk due to the absence of proper latrines.

Mugobi reported that 38 homes in the Nsasi and Rwobuzizi wards of Bufunda Division currently lack latrines. Under local law, individuals found without latrines may face a fine of 200,000 shillings or up to six months in prison.