A man from Kibaale District has been sentenced to five years in prison after being found guilty of vandalising telecommunications infrastructure and stealing equipment valued at shs23.6 million.
Appearing before the Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court at Makindye on Wednesday, Sadick Sibaminya was convicted after the court found that he had illegally entered a telecommunications mast site in Kibaale District on 7 March 2026, cut and stole critical telecommunications equipment and cables before being apprehended at the scene
The court found Sibaminya guilty of vandalism under Section 83(1)(b) of the Uganda Communications Act, 2013, as well as theft and criminal trespass under the Penal Code Act.
He was sentenced to one year imprisonment for criminal trespass, two years for vandalism, and two years for theft, bringing his total prison term to five years.
According to the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), the vandalised infrastructure was worth Shs 23.6 million, with the damage disrupting telecommunications services and increasing the cost of maintaining and expanding communication networks.
UCC said acts of vandalism against telecommunications infrastructure undermine the delivery of essential services, including voice and internet connectivity, broadcasting, mobile financial services, education, healthcare, and emergency communications.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the country’s communications infrastructure through continued collaboration with telecom operators, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and local communities to prevent such crimes and ensure offenders are brought to justice.
UCC also called on the public to remain vigilant and report any acts of vandalism, stressing that safeguarding telecommunications infrastructure is a shared responsibility essential to maintaining reliable communication services for millions of Ugandans.
