The High Court in Kampala has sentenced businessman Muhammed Ssebuwufu, the proprietor of Pine Car Bond in Kampala to 40 years imprisonment after finding him guilty of torturing to death, businesswoman Betty Donah Katusabe for failure to clear an outstanding debt of nine million shillings.
Sebuwufu alongside six others were convicted of three counts of murder, kidnap with intent to murder and aggravated robbery while one has been convicted with being an accessory after crime.
On Monday, Justice Flavia Ssenoga said the convicts acted with impunity when they carried out the offence and what they did is despicable.
“She was tortured, robbed and killed yet the matter over a debt could have been settled amicably,” Justice Ssenoga said.
The judge decried the manner in which the convicts conducted themselves when they went to the deceased’s home brought her to Pine Car Bond where she spent the entire day while being tortured before she succumbed to torture wounds.
“This shows the crime was not accidental but rather premeditated and each of the convicts played a role. The convicts had sufficient time since the abduction from home in the morning to reflect on their actions but they didn’t find it in their hearts to repent and settle the matter amicably.”
She added, “By giving such sentences, court wishes to send a strong message that disputes should be settled amicably and not violently. No one should always take the law into their hands.”
The judge subsequently sentenced Ssebuwuufu, Godfrey Kayiza, Philip Mirambe, Paul Tasingika, Yoweri Kitayimba, Damaseni Ssentongo and Shaban Odutu to 40 years imprisonment for murder and 20 more years for aggravated robber and kidnap with intent to murder.
The judge also sentenced, the eighth person, Stephen Lwanga to seven years imprisonment for being an accessory to the murder.
The eight convicts were also ordered to pay a fine of shs100 million to the family of the deceased for the loss they occasioned to them.
