By Gad Masereka
Kampala: The High Court In Kampala presided over by Justice Flavia Anglin Ssenoga has sentenced Ronald Mutebi and Godfrey Lubwama to 30-years imprisonment after finding them guilty for murdering and robbing Andrew Gatare, a Rwandan National and former student of Columbia College in Canada.
While reading the sentences on 22 July 2019, Justice Ssenoga said the victim was targeted by the convicts as part of their meditated plan. She noted that although their charges are grave in nature, the death sentence is no longer mandatory and therefore handed them a 30-year jail term. “Such unlawful conduct has to be condemned to send out a message that crime cannot be tolerated,” said Ssenoga.
Gatare’s life perished on January, 1st, 2015 at around 1:30am along Nile Avenue on his way home after watching fireworks at Serena Hotel. The convicted assailants stole the deceased’s black berry phone valued at more than one million Shillings and sold it off at Shillings 100,000 but only received Shillings 40,000 in cash.
Justice Ssenoga also appealed to Ugandans that none is above the law, so whoever commits a crime shall be held accountable.
“Over the weekend I saw in the news someone saying even if you take me my people will bail me out. We want to send a message that you cannot commit a crime and get away with it,” Ssenoga said.
Florence Akello the Assistant Director of Public Prosecution had asked court to hand the convicts a preferable sentence, arguing that they planned to end Gatare’s life. She noted that Gatare was just 19 year old whose life was ended abruptly yet he had a very bright future ahead of him.
But the convicts through their lawyers, Fredrick Mbazira and Faizal Murangira asked court to give them a lenient sentence arguing that they killers were their first time commit such a crime and both are of middle age. The convicts are in their mid-thirties.
Council Mbazira asked court to hand Mutebi a 15 year sentence while Murangira asked that Lubwama be handed 10 years for each counts, saying they will reform.
“My Lord we send our sincere condolences to the family that lost its beloved one but our journey to reform has just started”, said Murangira. He further told court that Lubwama lost one of his children while in Luzira and thus needed to return home to resume his parental responsibilities.
Mbazira also said Mutebi has school going children including a four-year-old he has never seen because he was arrested when the mother was expecting but all was in vein.
The deceased’s relatives welcomed the judgment, saying they hope Gatare will now rest in peace.
