Student charged, incarcerated to Naguru over theft

ROBBERY

KAMPALA - A 16-year-old student has been sent to Naguru Remand Home over theft and office breaking.

Jonathan Muwonge alias Nduwunya was remanded by the Buganda Road Court Grade One Magistrate, Asuman Muhumuza on two counts of office breaking and theft.

Muwonge, a resident of Katwe- Katende Zone, Katwe parish, Makindye Division in Kampala district denied the charges.

The offences contravene section 254 (I), 261 and 297 (a) of the Penal Code Act and each carries a maximum sentence of seven- and ten-years imprisonment, respectively, upon conviction.

Upon denying the charges, the state prosecutor Patricia Cingatho informed the court that inquiries in the matter were still ongoing.

"Your honour, investigations in the matter before you are still ongoing, we, therefore, request for an adjournment for the mention," Cingatho said.

However, the accused requested the court to grant him bail on grounds that his mother, Dorothy Nantumbwe was ready to stand him surety.

"Be merciful and grant me bail, my mother is within the court premises," Muwonge told the court.

This prompted the learned Magistrate to send his guard to look for the accused's mother but was nowhere to be seen, thereby remanding the latter.


"Since your parents are not here, you will go to Naguru Remand Home till May 7, 2020," said Muhumuza.

Background

The charges come shortly after President Museveni ordered for closure of all schools and suspended gatherings across the country to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

In all his media COVID-19 updates and briefing, the president has been cautioning and continuously advising students to stay home, but the accused did not adhere to the president's orders.

This means charges of disobeying lawful orders are also appropriate against the incarcerated Muwonge.

The charge

The prosecution alleges that on March 24, 2020, at Nasser Road in Kampala, the accused and others still at large did break and enter the office of James Lubega with intent to commit a felony of theft.

That the same day, place and time, the accused and others still at

large stole one HP Laptop, an IPhone, a Central Processing Unit (CPU), and four desktops valued at sh20m. All the said property belonged to Lubega.