Man Sentenced to 7 Years for harming Police Officer

By Moses Agaba

Kisoro

The Kisoro Grade I Magistrates Court has convicted and sentenced a 30 years old man to 7 years in prison for causing grievous harm to police officer while on duty.

Prosecution told court that was presided over by the Kisoro Grade I Magistrate His Worship Raphael Vueni that on 12th August 2022 Benson Pius Hafasha while in Gasija cell, unlawfully did a grievous harm to Sergeant Serugendo Johnson, a police officer attached Rubuguri police station in Kisoro District contrary to section 219 of the penal code act chapter 120.

Prosecution led by Kisoro resident state attorney Christopher Ainenomugisha told court that on 12th August 2022, PC Niyonzima Callist, PC Ayinomugisha Apollo and Sgt Serugendo Johnson, all attached to Rubuguri police station went to summon the accused person for the purpose of recording a statement at Rubuguri police station on allegations of trespassing and malicious damage.

The three police officers were unarmed and in plain clothes they fund Hafasha at his carpentry workshop located near Rubuguri police station and introduced themselves and the purpose of their visit.

They requested the accused to go with them to the police station and it is said that the accused then requested police officers to allow him enter into his carpentry workshop and lock the door as a sign of compliance and cooperation with police officers.

Thereafter, PC Niyonzima Carlist and PC Ayinomugisha Apollo left Sgt Serugendo Johnson with the accused person and went back to the station. Sgt Serugendo was later surprised to see the accused person emerge from his workshop with a sharp panga only to cut him severely on the neck and both legs.

Later, members of the community started a chase of the accused person, alarming that he had killed a police officer.

The accused person then went and surrendered himself at Rubuguri police station where he was detained. Sgt Serugendo Johnson was rushed to Rubuguri health centre IV in critical condition with multiple cut wounds and was later discharged.

In defense Hafasha admitted to have committed the crime as he claimed that he didn’t know that the trio were police officers because they went to his workshop in plain clothes and that they were using force to arrest him.

He further testified that upon his arrest, he requested to go inside his carpentry workshop so that he closes the door.

He alleged that on reaching inside his workshop, he realized that his money worth Ugx 2 million which he had kept in his pocket was missing and he immediately suspected that it was Sgt Serugendo to have been the one who took his money.

Court convicted Hafasha Benon basing on testimonies by police officers and a medical officer as witnesses of the complainant.

Kisoro resident state attorney Christopher Aineomugisha asked court to give Hafasha Benon a heavy sentence to deter others from committing similar crime.

His worship Raphael Vueni convicted and sentenced the accused to seven years in prison but he is to serve 6 years and 10 months in prison have been on remand for the last two months.