Man jailed 40 years for 'mercilessly' murdering 60-year-old woman

The High Court has sentenced Dickson Ampumuza, also known as Kakiga, to 40 years in prison for the murder of 60-year-old Flora Kiiza Tumukunde.

Justice Allan Paul Nshimye sentenced Ampumuza on Tuesday, saying the murder was committed in a brutal manner.

Court heard that Ampumuza, together with others, planned and executed the killing of Tumukunde. Evidence presented during the trial showed that he personally carried out the act by cutting the victim’s throat, leading to her death due to hemorrhagic shock.

“In this case, the evidence on record shows that the convict and others planned to kill Tumukunde, a 60-year-old woman. The convict carried out the actual cutting of the throat, which was merciless and gruesome. The action of the convict resulted into her death due to hemorrhagic shock as stated in the postmortem report,” said Justice Nshimye of the Mbarara High Court.

He handed down the sentence after convicting Ampumuza on March 17, 2026, of murder contrary to Sections 171 and 172 of the Penal Code Act.

In his sentencing, Nshimye described the killing as “merciless” and “gruesome,” noting that the victim was a defenceless elderly woman.

“The convict played an active role in the unprovoked killing, which was planned and executed with brutality,” said the judge.

He observed that although the offence warranted a life sentence, mitigating factors—particularly the convict’s guilty plea —were considered in reducing the sentence.

The court also took into account aggravating factors, including the premeditated nature of the crime and the convict’s direct role in carrying out the murder.

Ampumuza will serve 40 years in prison, with the sentence running from March 17, 2026. The court deducted four months and 15 days, which he had spent on remand prior to conviction.

Nshimye informed Ampumuza of his right to appeal against both conviction and sentence within 14 days.