Percy Nanyondo cried throughout the session.

Resident Judge Margaret Mutonyi has sentenced a city socialite, Percy Nanyondo, to 12 years in prison for causing the death of New Vision photojournalist Royce Mubiru Kakebe.

Prosecution led by Mallen Obizu told court that Kakebe succumbed to tetanus that he acquired through a wound he obtained when Nanyondo hit him with a broken bottle on a boat cruise on January 19, 2014.

Before he died, Kakebe had reported an assault case at Kitintale Police Station on January 19 and February 15. Nanyondo was arrested but was released on February 17 after they reached a mutual agreement.

However, Nanyondo was rearrested after Kakebe’s death and charged with murder, which was later reduced to manslaughter.

As soon as she entered the court room on Friday, Nanyondo, who was dressed in long blue dress, started crying.

New Vision photojournalist Mubiru Kakebe passed away over two years ago.

Nanyondo’s lawyer Emmanuel Tiromwe asked the judge to pass a lenient sentence, urguing that she had been remorseful following the fact that she had not intended to kill Kakebe.

Mutonyi said there is need for the public to protect journalists. “This court has to consider the interests of the family of the deceased.

The convict is, therefore, sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, the time spent on remand inclusive.

She is, however, free to appeal against her sentence if she is not contented,” she said.