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Mukono, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Former rally ace Ponsiano Lwakataka has been handed a 22-month prison sentence for criminal trespass and malicious damage to property. He was convicted by the Mukono Grade I magistrate Patience Koburunga Tuesday.
Koburungo sentenced Lwakataka to six months in prison for breaking the fence of George Kawooya and demolishing his house on 2 acres of land in Kiwanga village, Mukono Municipality in January 2019.
She also sentenced the former rally champion to 16 months in prison for malicious damage to property and criminal trespass on the property belonging to Joseline Natukunda, whose land is located next to that of Kawooya.
Koburunga ordered police to trace and re-arrest Solomon Okiror, Siraje Tamale, and Isa Waiswa who were arrested together with Lwakataka on the same charges but jumped bail. Earlier on State Attorney, Jonathan Muwaganya had asked the Magistrate to sentence Lwakataka to five years, saying his actions inflicted enormous torture on innocent residents.
“Kawooya, whose properties were destroyed is an old man who deserved protection. Encroaching on his land only created torture for him,” Muwaganya argued. Lwakataka’s Lawyer, Samuel Eyetu expressed dissatisfaction with the jail term handed to his client, saying that he had spent he had already spent two months on remand over the same charges.
The same magistrate remanded Lwakataka in September this year for failing to turn up for a court hearing.
