Joyce Namugambe
Court in Kabaale has sentenced a woman identified as Shamim Batariro, a business woman from Ruhinja village in Wakiso district to one year and six months in prison for being proved guilty over stealing a motor vehicle belonging to the Kigezi Diocese in Rukiga district.
It is alleged that Batariro stole a grey Suzuki vehicle with registration number UAT, 478N on July 12, 2023, which was used to transport the clergy from Kikungiri archdeaconry to the burial service in Kitabulaza village in Ruhanga town council.
According to the reports, Batariro made a stopover at Rubare town before she continued with her journey. She was later intercepted by police at Nyeihanga town council check point around 10:00 pm. This is because the stolen vehicle report was made at Muhanga police station and notifications were made to different police stations along Kabale Mbarara highway.
The secretary of the diocese of kigezi Rev. Canon Milton Nkurunungi was pleased by the court ruling and cautioned people to desist from engaging into criminal offenses which may cause them trouble.
Before the court session commenced, Batariro sought permission from the Kabale Chief Magistrate, Derrick Byamugisha, to speak with representatives of the Diocese. Byamugisha granted her this opportunity, and in front of the Diocese representatives, Batariro pleaded guilty and humbly requested forgiveness saying that her health had been affected due to the 2 months remand. However, the clergy told her that they lacked authority to dismiss the case since it was already in the hands of the state jurisdiction.
The court being led by the state prosecutor Raymond Mugisa charged her with the thefty of a motor vehicle valued 17.7 million shillings. Additionally, he informed the court that at the time of her arrest, Batariro was in possession of nine vehicle master keys, five sticks of marijuana, 480,000 Ugandan shillings in cash, and two trays of eggs.
Batariro was sentenced to 1 year and six months at Ndorwa government prison and the chief magistrate Byamugisha returned 480.000 to her to assist her during her sentence.
