The Nakifuma Magistrates’ Court has sentenced three men to prison after they admitted to breaking into a shrine in Mukono district and stealing Shs50 million along with several cultural artefacts.
The convicts — Vincent Golooba, a witchdoctor, Zakayo Oloka, and Musa Muwanga, all residents of Namasengere cell in Nakifuma-Naggalama Town Council — appeared before Grade One Magistrate Peter Gukiina on Friday.
According to submissions by state prosecutor Rachael Nabwire, the trio, together with others still on the run, broke into the home of Habibu Ssezigu, popularly known as Nsikonene, on May 31. They allegedly made off with Shs50m and items of cultural importance, including three drums, six bed sheets, three pots, and traditional horns locally called mayembe, which were kept inside the shrine.
Magistrate Gukiina ruled that the prosecution had presented consistent and reliable evidence, pointing to the recovery of one of the stolen traditional horns from a suspect’s house as key proof.
“The court is convinced that the accused acted with intent to permanently deprive the complainant of his property. The evidence clearly establishes the offence of theft and shrine breaking under the Penal Code Act,” Gukiina said in his judgment.
He sentenced Golooba and Oloka to three years and eight months in prison, while showing leniency to Muwanga, who pleaded guilty early and avoided wasting court time. Muwanga will serve one year in jail.
In addition to their prison terms, the magistrate ordered the convicts to each pay Shs35m in compensation to Nsikonene, totalling Shs70m, as partial recovery of the stolen cash and damages incurred in pursuing the case.
The ruling left the courtroom divided. While Nsikonene welcomed the decision, saying the theft had “disorganised his spirits and disrupted traditional practices,” families of the convicts expressed anger and vowed to appeal.
“We are not happy with this decision and intend to challenge it in the High Court,” said Mbamba, father of Golooba.
The three men have been on remand since early June when they were arrested and charged.
