The High Court in Rukungiri has sentenced three men to a total of 195 years after being found guilty of murdering a boda boda rider and robbing his motorcycle.
In an incident that happened on November,15, 2021, Isaac Muhumuza, who had just joined the boda boda business was lured into a remote area by his friend but also fellow rider, Morris Ariho and under the guise of showing him stolen fuel stored by a local construction company, the deceased was taken to a secluded place in Kanungu district.
Unknown to him, he was being lured into a well-orchestrated plot where two others,Joab Niwagaba and Onesmus Ainembabazi waited to prey on him.
After riding Muhumuza’s motorcycle to a farm owned by Niwagaba’s grandfather, the three men left him behind, conspiring to end his life and steal his motorcycle, valued at shs5 million.
Ariho, equipped with a hoe provided by Niwagaba, viciously struck Muhumuza multiple times on the head, killing him instantly.
They hastily buried his body near a tree on the farm before fleeing with the motorcycle.
Arrest
The trio’s plan unraveled when they attempted to sell the motorcycle in spare parts in Kanungu Town Council.
Police grew suspicious, and Niwagaba fled, hiding with relatives until his eventual arrest.
His capture led to the arrest of the other two men and during Police interrogation, the three confessed to the crime and disclosed the location of Muhumuza’s body, which was later exhumed.
On Wednesday, Justice Tom Chemutai of the High Court in Rukungiri convicted and later sentenced each of the three men to 65 years to make it 195 years in prison.
This was after prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Anthony Kurugyishuri from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Rukungiri, presented compelling evidence pinning the trio on the murder and aggravated robbery.
In his sentence, the judge said the punishment was sending a message to other would be offenders that crime doesn’t pay.
