The High Court in Kampala has sentenced two notorious criminals, Aloysius Tamale alias Young Mulo and John Bosco Mugisha alias Mukiga, to an additional 40 years in prison each for the murder and robbery of a boda-boda rider in 2019.
The latest sentences bring the total prison terms the two men are serving to 110 years each, having already been sentenced to 70 years for previous similar offences.
The case stems from the murder of boda-boda rider Derrick Muwonge, also known as Mulindwa, in Kakeeka, Mengo, in 2019.
Tamale and Mugisha became widely known after CCTV footage showing the attack circulated on social media. The footage showed the two men choking Muwonge before repeatedly hitting him on the head with a hammer.
They then killed him and allegedly took his motorcycle.
On Monday, High Court Judge Alex Ajiji sentenced each convict to 40 years for murder.
The prosecution had asked the court to impose the death penalty on both men, arguing for the seriousness of the offences.
However, Judge Ajiji ruled that a death sentence was unnecessary because the two convicts were already serving lengthy sentences for similar crimes.
The judge said the additional 40-year sentences would ensure the two men remain in prison for a considerable period and do not return to society to commit further offences.
“This court has a duty to sentence the accused persons to a harsh sentence but considering that each of them already has 70 years in prison over two previous convictions on similar offences, it would not be useful to mete out a death sentence,” Judge Ajiji said.
He added that another 40 years would result in each convict serving more than 100 years in prison, making it unnecessary to impose the death penalty.
The court therefore opted for the additional 40-year prison term for each of the two men.