COURT | THEFT | BYARUGABA

IBANDA - Amon Byarugaba is a ‘bad grandson’ in the real sense of the word if the accusations levelled against him turn out true. 

Byarugaba stands accused of allegedly stealing his grandmother’s property, namely; a new six-inch mattress, a pair of bedsheets, a bed cover and 60kg of millet, which were stolen on October 12, 2022, at night.

Jadress Kyozeire, a resident of Rushasha, Bugarama in Bishehe Division, Ibanda Municipality, told Ibanda Grade One Magistrates Court that the accused reportedly gained access to the house after breaking one glass of the door and unlocking the padlocks that were inside.

“I slept in another room with my other grandchildren … The next morning, I realised that my house was broken into and my mattress and millet had been stolen,” the 87-year-old said. 

“I immediately suspected my grandson (Byarugaba) because he had previously stolen my bananas and a sack of millet, but I did not report him to the authorities,” Kyozeire added when asked by the prosecution why she zeroed in on Byarugaba.

She was testifying before the court presided over by Grade One Magistrate Esther Murungi Wednesday (February 1) in a case where she is accusing her grandson of stealing her property.

She reported the matter to the area chairperson, who, together with other officials of the village LC committee, mounted a search for the suspect after she mentioned he could be behind the theft.

He was later arrested by LC officials as he allegedly tried to escape and was taken to Bisheshe Police post before he was transferred to Ibanda Central Police Station.

“The LC officials found my mattress at his father’s shop in Biafra, Rushasha. My grandson confessed to stealing the millet and mattress while still at Bisheshe Police post, but denied knowledge of the bedsheets and bed cover,” she added. 

"He said he had already sold millet to someone from Ishongororo town, but refused to tell us the buyer," added the grandmother.

Asked how she wanted the court to help her, Kyozeire said she wants her millet and beddings back and will then even forgive the grandson.

Throughout her testimony, Byarugaba ignored eye contact with the grandmother and also cried when the court repeatedly asked him to cross-examine her. He refused, looking like a broken man.

Jovialo Kyarisiima, another witness, said when the accused saw LC officials going to his father’s shop, he run away. We found the father in the shop and the mattress was there.

His father told us that Byarugaba had claimed to have bought it. 

Hearing of the plaintiff’s witnesses continues on February 21, 2023.