Electrical engineer remanded for stealing UTL poles

COURT|CRIME

KAMPALA - The Buganda Road Chief Magistrates' Court in Kampala has charged and remanded an electrical engineer for allegedly stealing Uganda Telecom Limited (UTL) poles.

Simon Luberenga 38, an electrician attached to Dat Paul Investments in Namuwongo was on Monday charged with three counts of theft, conspiracy to commit a felony and removal or tampering with installation of UTL fibers.

Grade One Magistrate, Marion Mangeni read him the charges alongside his co-accused, Hassan Igga, an employee of the same company and a supervisor to Leberenga.

Luberenga is a resident of Namalere, Kasangati Town Council in Wakiso while as Igga abodes at Kabaawo zone, Mutundwe in Kampala district.

The charges contravene sections 83 (1) (b) the Uganda Communication Act, 254 (1), 261 and 390 of the Penal Code Act. However, the duo denied to have committed the offences.

Prosecution led by Ivan Kyazze informed court that investigations in the matter were still ongoing.

"Your honor, inquiries are still ongoing, we pray that the matter is adjourned for mention," Kyazze said, prompting the Magistrate to adjourn the case to August 18, 2020.

Prosecution alleges that on the July 24, 2020 at Nalukolongo in Kampala district, the accused and others still at large damaged, removed and tampered with core fiber cables and two poles belonging to UTL.

It is further purported that on the same date and time, the duo stole two wooden poles, valued at sh240, 000 and conspired together to commit a felony, theft.