High Court in Kampala has Monday (1st July, 2019) sentenced Pine Car Bond proprietor Muhammad Ssebuwufu to 40 years in prison over the murder city business woman Donah Katushabe.

Ssebuwufu and seven others; Godfrey Kayiza, Philp Mirambe, Stephen Lwanga, Paul Tasingika, Yoweri Kitayimbwa, Damaseni Ssentongo and Shaban Otuddu were last week convicted of three counts of murder, kidnap with intent to murder and aggravated robbery.

The group is said to have kidnapped Donah Katushabe in October 2015 and beating her to death over an accumulated  9 million shillings debt worth a car purchase from the car bond.

While giving her ruling, High Court Judge Justice Flavia Ssenoga said the eight convicts acted with impunity when they carried out the offence, adding that what they did is despicable.

“She was tortured, robbed and killed, and yet the matter over a debt could have been settled amicably,” Justice Flavia Ssenoga said.

The judge condemned the way the group picked the late Katushabe from her home and tortured to death her at Pine Car Bond.

“This shows the crime was not accidental but rather premeditated and each of the convicts played a role. The convicts had sufficient time since the abduction from home in the morning to reflect on their actions but they didn’t find it in their hearts to repent and settle the matter amicably,” she said, adding that, “By giving such sentences, court wishes to send a strong message that disputes should be settled amicably and not violently. No one should always take the law into their hands.”

The judge sentenced Ssebuwufu, Godfrey Kayiza, Philip Mirambe, Paul Tasingika, Yoweri Kitayimba, Damaseni Ssentongo and Shaban Odutu to 40 years in prison and an additional 20 years for kidnap with intent to murder and aggravated robbery.

The eight convict, Stephen Lwanga was sentenced to 40 years for being an accessory to the murder.