Sex worker sentenced to a fine for stealing customer's phone

City Hall Court in Kampala has ordered Isabella Atuhire to pay a fine of sh500,000 or spend two years in prison for stealing a customer's smartphone.

Atuhire, 32, a sex worker and resident of Balintuma zone in Kiwatule within Nakawa division, Kampala, was sentenced by Senior Principal Magistrate Nicholas Aisu.

The magistrate ordered her to pay a fine, or spend two years in jail in default.

However, Atuhire told the court that she will afford that amount.

The charges

Atuhire was charged with theft, contrary to sections 237(1) and 244 of the Penal Code Act Cap 128.

Prosecution led by Mercy Yamangusho told court that on September 26, 2026, at Balintuma zone, Atuhire stole a Samsung 324 Ultra mobile phone valued at sh2.1m and an iPhone 7x valued at sh1m. The phones belonged to Nduka Chibueze.

The brief facts presented before court state that Atuhire agreed with Chibueze to entertain each other in a lodge, but when they reached there, she stole the phones and ran away. Atuhire sold the phones at sh520,000.

Court heard that Atuhire was later arrested from a bar enjoying drinks on the money she obtained from the sale of Chibueze's phones.

Atuhire agreed to the brief facts and told court she agreed with her customer to use protection, but he refused and gave her sh2,000 as transport, which she did not agree to.

She later snatched Chibueze's phones and took off.

During mitigation, Atuhire asked court to have lenience on her because she has a child she takes care of and she is also pregnant.

The prosecutor, however, requested a harsh sentence, arguing that such cases are rampant in the court's jurisdiction.