Appearing on Tuesday evening, Batariho asked court to allow her have a private talk with plaintiffs. While meeting them, Batariho pleaded guilty and asked for forgiveness.
Businesswoman, Shamim Batariro, has earned herself one year and
six months in jail after pleading guilty to stealing a motor vehicle belonging
to Kigezi Diocese at the burial of the late Apollo Nyegamahe alias Aponye in
Rukiga district.
Batariro, a resident of Ruhinja village in Wakiso district,
admitted to stealing a grey Suzuki vehicle with registration number UAT 478N on
July 12, 2023.
The vehicle had transported clerics from Kikungiri Archdeaconry,
led by Archdeacon Venerable Canon Amos Tweteise, to the burial service in
Kitaburaza village, Muhanga town council.
She made a stopover in Rubare town before continuing her journey
at night. However, her luck ran out when she was intercepted by police at the
Nyeihanga town council checkpoint around 10:00 p.m. Batariro was initially taken
to Rwampara police station in Rwampara district and later transferred to
Rukiga, where the case originated.
During her arrest, Batariro was found in possession of nine
vehicle master keys, five sticks of marijuana, 500,000 Shillings in cash, 2
trays of eggs, and traditional herbs wrapped in dry banana fibers. She was
first detained at Rwampara police station and later transferred to Rukiga
police station until July 18, 2023, when she was brought before the court and
charged with stealing a motor vehicle valued at 17.7 million Shillings,
contravening sections 254 and 265 of the Penal Code Act.
Appearing before the Kabale Chief
Magistrate, Derrick Byamugisha on Tuesday, Batariho requested a
private talk with the plaintiffs. During this meeting with Rev
Canon Tweteise and Rev Canon Nkurunungi who represented Kigezi diocese, she pleaded guilty and
asked for forgiveness. She explained that her health had deteriorated during
her two-month remand since she was HIV positive.
Batariho claimed that she was unaware the vehicle was stolen
because it had been given to her by a man named Sula Sekasi from Kampala, who
instructed her to drive it to the Diocese headquarters. However, the church
representatives, informed Batariro that they had no authority to decide her
fate, as she was under state jurisdiction, despite her admission of guilt.
//Cue in: “Nshaba kusonyuyibwa emyezi…
Cue out: “Mugyeyo Omusango.”//
Byamugisha handed a one-year and six-month sentence to Batariho
at Ndorwa government prison, stating that she had not wasted the court's time.
Byamugisha also returned 480,000 Shillings to Batariro to assist her during her
sentence. Rev Canon Milton Nkurunungi, the Secretary of Kigezi Diocese welcomed
the ruling and urged members of the public to refrain from engaging in criminal
activities.
