Man sentenced to two years' imprisonment for injuring a pig

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A man will spend a total of five years in prison after court in Kaberamaido district sentenced him to two years for injuring his neighbour’s pig.

Kaberamaido chief magistrate Patricia Ndagire handed Francis Ekodu the two-year sentence after initially considering a more lenient punishment, but later concluding that the accused showed no remorse for his actions.

Prosecution, led by resident state attorney Irene Nambozo, told court that in March 2025, Ekodu injured a pig belonging to James Aporu in Apokemado village, Aperkira subcounty, Kaberamaido district.

Ekodu was also accused of removing boundary marks separating his family's land from that of his neighbour, Aporu.

When asked to enter his plea, Ekodu admitted injuring the pig, claiming the animal had been destroying food in his compound. However, he denied removing the boundary marks.

Ndagire asked Aporu to tell court what action he wanted taken against the accused after the guilty plea on the charge of injuring the animal.

She also invited Ekodu’s father, Tom Eligu, to advise court on what should be done to his son.

Although the maximum sentence for injuring an animal is seven years, Ndagire initially considered sentencing Ekodu to one year in prison.

When asked whether he had anything to say before sentencing, Ekodu told court to decide his fate.

Accused’s past conduct revealed

After hearing additional background information, Ndagire revised her earlier position.

Court heard that Ekodu had earlier been sentenced to three years’ imprisonment for assaulting his wife, Betty Anabo, and causing grievous harm. He has so far served only two months of that sentence.

Aporu also told court that Ekodu had become problematic since he bought part of his father’s land, alleging that he had already removed the boundary marks three times.

“I stay with Ekodu’s father as my brother because he sold me land. I treat the accused as my son because of the already built relationship. I have helped in raising him since I got him while still young, and I really do not know why, among all other family members, it is he who has decided to behave negatively towards me,” Aporu told court.

Meanwhile, Ekodu’s father, Eligu, told court that the accused was among his sons who refused to attend family meetings organised to resolve misunderstandings at home.

“Let him be sentenced to seven years, such that he can come back as a changed person. I am also fed up with his father after doing what I can when he cannot listen to me,” Eligu told the court about his son.

He further revealed that Ekodu’s wife left him and married another man after suffering injuries from his violent behaviour.

People in court appeared visibly shocked by the accused’s conduct, while others expressed surprise at the maximum sentence proposed by his own father.

Members of the public could be seen shaking their heads in disbelief over the behaviour of the young man, who is said to be in his early twenties.

Sentence reconsidered

However, after listening to both Aporu and Eligu, Ndagire revised her earlier decision.

She said that sentencing Ekodu to seven years, in addition to the three-year sentence he was already serving, would be excessive.

Ndagire said she believed two possible outcomes could arise from the punishment.

She expressed hope that serving two years for the current offence, in addition to the three years already imposed, would help reform him during the total five-year imprisonment.

She also warned that keeping him in prison for too long could expose him to hardened criminals and potentially make him more dangerous in future.

“Having seen how unremorseful and violent you are, I change my mind and sentence you to two years imprisonment on your own plea,” Ndagire ruled.

This means Ekodu will now serve a total of five years in prison.

The magistrate directed Aporu and Eligu, with the help of clan members, local council officials and police, to ensure the disputed land boundaries are replanted.