Today in History; November 25, 2011

A man who was described by court as a ringleader of a gang of highway robbers was sentenced to ten years imprisonment in Kampala.

For robbery with violence, the man, Musa Mukasa Kasayi of Katwe in Kampala, pleaded not guilty.

It was alleged that Kasayi attacked a trader, Shivabhai Patel and robbed him of sh13000. Police Supt. E.G. Seed prosecuting, told court that a gang of highway robbers, including Kasayi ambushed Patel’s car on Kangulumira road by parking another car across it.

The trader and his driver were dragged out of the car, robbed him  of the money he had withdrawn from a bank earlier on,  and the robbers made off with both cars.

He added that although the other members of the gang were arrested a few days later, Kasayi remained at large for 7 months before he was arrested. He had previous convictions for shop breaking, theft, assault and burglary.

Then and now

At the time of independence in 1962, statistics show that poverty levels stood at around 65% of the population. This figure grew as high as 70% in the 1980s, 55% in 1990s, reduced to about 35% in 2007 and to date 24.5% (nearly 7.5million) Ugandans live in poverty.

(2009/10 UNHS Report)