Buganda Road Magistrates Court has sentenced Police Constable (PC) Stephen Murombo to 18 months in prison for neglect of duty and failure to protect firearms and ammunition. The sentencing of Murombo follows a pre-bargain agreement entered between him and the Director of public prosecution.
Prosecution avers that on May 12, 2023, a police gun which was assigned to PC Muromba was used by fellow police Ivan Wabwire to kill Uttam Bhandar, the manager of TFS Financial Services at Raja Chambers on Parliament Avenue.
The gun was left unattended in their shared room. The police policy on use of firearms demands, he should have returned the gun to the Armory, before moving out of the station. He instead, without lawful permission sneaked out of the station to attend to a personal matter, which is an outright case of gross indiscipline and negligence.
Following the gruesome murder, Murombo was charged in May and subsequently dismissed from the police.
Appearing before Grade One Magistrate Fidelis Otwao, State Attorney Shiphrah told court that Murombo pleaded guilty. According to the agreement both parties agreed that whereas both charges carry a maximum of two and five years, the accused serve six months and one year in prison.
In his ruling, Magistrate Otwao validated it with a deduction of the time spent on remand saying that having reviewed the agreement and having questioned Muromba concerning his constitutional rights, he has found that he has expressly, knowingly, understandingly, and intelligently waived and given up his or her constitutional and statutory rights.
He ruled that court finds that Muromba voluntarily agreed to plead guilty with an understanding of the nature and consequences thereof, that any allegations as indicated in this form are true, and that there is a factual basis for the plea and admission.
“The court accepts the accused’s plea and orders that this agreement is incorporated in the docket by reference as though fully set forth therein,” Otwao ruled.