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A 30-year-old man has been sentenced by a court in Kisoro district to 7 years’ imprisonment after pleading guilty to causing grievous harm to a police officer.
Pius Benon Hafasha, a resident of Gasija village, Rubuguri town council, Kisoro district caused grievous harm to Sergeant Serugyendo Johnson, a police officer attached Rubuguri police station on August 12, 2022.
Prosecution led by Christopher Ainebyoona, Kisoro resident state attorney told the court that on that day, Serugyendo in accompany of Police Constables Calist Niyonzima and Apollo Ainomugisha, went to arrest Hafasha on charges of criminal trespass and malicious damage on a disputed piece of land.
On reaching there, Hafasha who was at his carpentry workshop convinced them to allow him first close his carpentry workshop and they proceed to police. The officer allowed him after he showed signs of cooperation. Hafasha however came out of the workshop while armed with a machete and cut Serugyendo on the neck and legs.
Ayinomugisha asked the court to give Hafasha a heavy sentence to deter others from committing a similar crime. But Hafasha admitted to the crime and asked for forgiveness claiming that he did not know that Serugendo and his colleagues were police officers because they were donning civilian attire instead of uniform.
In his ruling on Thursday evening, his Worship Raphael Vuenni, Kisoro Grade One Magistrate Court said that Hafasha has lost the case based on testimonies given by police officers and other eyewitnesses.
Vueni convicted Hafasha to seven years in prison. He also advised police officers to avoid carrying out such operations while not armed with guns.
Elly Maate, police spokesperson for Kigezi region says that as police, they welcome the sentence adding that this will be a lesson for others with similar intentions of harming police officers while on duty.
