Written By | Peter Luzinda
The offences were committed during a series of attacks on electricity transmission infrastructure between November and December 2022.
Search
KAMPALA
The International Crimes Division of the High Court has sentenced Muwonge Ibrah alias Kimbowa Ibrah to 10 years in prison after he admitted to terrorism offences linked to the destruction of electricity infrastructure in central Uganda.
Justice Dr Andrew Bashaija sentenced Muwonge after he entered a plea bargain on two counts of terrorism and one count of terrorism financing.
The offences were committed during a series of attacks on electricity transmission infrastructure between November and December 2022.
Court records indicate that 14 high-voltage electricity pylons and poles were cut or destroyed along the Owen Falls–Lugogo, Bujagali–Kawanda, Owen Falls–Namanve and Kawanda–Kapeka transmission lines.
The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney Jacquelyn Okui, said the attacks triggered widespread power outages and affected several essential sectors.
Water supply, health services, industries, communications, financial services and education were among the services disrupted by the attacks.
The destruction also caused economic losses and forced the government to deploy an emergency thermal power plant at Namanve to support electricity supply to the Kampala metropolitan area.
Recruitment and mobilisation
Investigations linked Muwonge to a group identified as the Uganda Defence Forces (UDF), which investigators said was associated with the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).
Prosecutors told court that Muwonge used a WhatsApp group to recruit and mobilise youths and coordinate activities targeting electricity infrastructure.
He was also accused of financing the operation by providing money for equipment, transport and payments to people involved in the destruction of the power installations.
Evidence recovered from mobile phones, including photographs, videos, audio recordings and messages, was presented as part of the evidence linking him to the planning, financing and execution of the attacks.
After the prosecution had presented evidence from about eight witnesses, Muwonge opted for a plea bargain.
Sentence
In determining the punishment, the court considered the seriousness and premeditated nature of the offences, the involvement of a group and Muwonge's alleged role in coordinating the attacks.
Justice Bashaija also considered the damage to critical national infrastructure, the resulting losses and the need to deter similar offences.
The court, however, considered his guilty plea, expression of remorse, his responsibilities as a father and breadwinner and the fact that no person was killed in the attacks.
Muwonge received 10 years for terrorism and five years for terrorism financing, with the sentences running concurrently.
He will therefore serve an effective 10-year prison sentence.
