[2022] UGCA 308

## THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA

(Coram: Kenneth Kakuru, Muzamrru M. Kibeedi & hene Mulyagonia' JJA)

## CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. 0171 OF 2018

# KALULE MUSA ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: APPELLANT

#### VERSUS

UGANDA ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: RESPONDENT

10 [Appealfrom the Judgment of the High Court of tJganda at Kampala (Hon. Mr. Justlce Moses -iazibwe Kawumi) delivered on 13th February 2018 in Criminalsesslon Case No. 0492 of 20161

### JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

#### lntroduction:

The appellant was indicted, tried and convicted of the offences of Murder contrary to Sections

1s 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act, Cap. '120 and Aggravated Robbery contrary to Sections 285 and 286(2) of the Penal Code Act, Cap. 120

The particulars of the offence of murder were that Kalule Musa a/r,as Sam, Yenga Amanga Blaise and others still at large on the 2nd day of February 2013 around Matugga area in the Wakiso District with malice aforethought unlaMully killed Zziwa John Bosco.

- ²⁰ The particulars of the offence of Aggravated Robbery were that Kalule Musa a/las Sam, Yenga Amanga Blaise and others still at large on the 2nd day of February 2013 around Matugga area in the Wakiso District robbed Zziwa John Bosco of his motor vehicle registration number UAS 713M Toyota Premio Silver Grey valued at Twelve Million Five Hundred Thousand Shillings Only (12,500,0067=1 and at, immediately before or after the said robbery threatened to use ^a - ²⁵ deadly weapon to wit iron bars, hammer and ropes on the said Zziwa Joh nBosy). .ru

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The prosecution's case before the trial court was that the deceased, Zziwa John Bosco, was a driver working with Deboro Car Hire Enterprises whose Head Office was located on Diamond Trust Building, Kampala. On 02no February 2013, at about 6PM, the deceased left the company office while driving the Company motor vehicle registration number UAS 713M Toyota Premio silver in colour. He never returned and as all his phones were off, his superior, Qwori Stephen was prompted to report a case of missing person to Central Police Station, Kampala.

35 On 4th February 2013, a herdsman grazing cattle along Semuto road in Ruzuume village in Matugga found the deceased's body in the swampy sugarcane garden. The herdsman immediately notified the people nearby including the Local Council authorities and the Parish Chief of Ssanga. These in turn notified police.

The crime scene was visited by among others the lnspector of Police, one Kalema Deogratius who revealed that he recovered from the deceased, identification documents bearing the name of Zziwa John Bosco and some telephone numbers. Kalema dialled the telephone numbers and the recipients confirmed to him that he was a special hire driver who had disappeared.

The deceased's body was taken to Mulago hospital for postmortem examination. The deceased was identified by Owori Stephen and Mutebi Ronald as Zziwa John Bosco. The Police Mortem carried out on Police Form 488 revealed the cause of death as asphyxia following upper airway obstruction in ligature strangulation.

Later on 'lTtt March 2014, motor vehicle registration number UAS 713M was recovered in Arua town Uganda with a one Sammy Lety Ondia, a Congolese from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) while bearing a Congolese registration number 24431AA25. However, the Ugandan registration number UAS 713M was still evident on the window screen and side mirrors. The Police lnvestigation revealed that Ondia bought the motor vehicle from Abi Adia Sabo in Ariwan DRC. Abi Adia Sabo claimed to have bought the said motor vehicle from 45 50

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yenga Amanga Blaise. Yenga Amanga Blaise was a car broker in DRC who claimed to have received the motor vehicle in issue from the appellant, Kalule Musa, on the 6th of February 2013 for sale in DRC.

55 subsequently, in the month of August 2013, the appellant was arrested after he had exported to DRC yet another stolen car, Prado TX, silver in colour, to Yenga Amanga Blaise for sale'

An identification parade was canied out by Police and Yenga Amanga Blaise identified the first accused as a car dealer and the person who brought to him the motor vehicle Premio registration number UAS 713M for sale in the month of February, 2013'

60 The appellant was then charged before court, tried and convicted and sentenced to 46 years and eight months on each one of the counts after taking into account the pre-trial remand period of 3 Years and eight Months.

The appellant appealed to the court of Appeal against both conviction and sentence on three grounds as set out in the Amended Memorandum of Appeal as follows:

- 1. The Learned Trial Judge erred in law and factwhen he relied on weak circumstantial evidence to convict the accused on murder and aggravated robbery thus occasioning him a miscarriage of iustice' - 2. The Learned Triat Judge erred in law and fact when he failed to properly evaluate the evidence as a whole thereby occasioning him a miscarriage ol iustice' - 3. ln the alternative and without preiudice to the above, that the trial court erred in law - 70 andfactwhenitpassedaharshandseveresentencetotheAppellantthus occasioning him a miscarriage ol iustice'

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#### Representation:

75 At the hearing of the appeal, Mr. lsaac Jur Kodil and Ms. Elizabeth Nyansingo appeared for the appellant, while Mr. Sam Oola, Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), appeared for the respondent. The appellant followed the court proceedings via Video link to prison.

80 Both parties filed written submissions as directed by court. The appeal was thus disposed of on the basis of written arguments only.

## Appellant,s Written Submissions:

ln his submissions, Counsel joined grounds one and two. Then he submitted on ground three separately.

85 with regard to grounds I and 2, counsel faulted the trial Judge for relying on the circumstantial evidence of PWS, the circumstances of the proximity of the period of the disappearance of the car from Uganda and its reappearance in Congo, and the discredited alibi of the appellant to place the appellant at the scene of crime.

Counsel submitted that the circumstantial evidence was weak and could not conclusively infer the guilt or the participation of the appellant in respect of the two offences. That PW5's evidence of placing the appellant at the scene of crime was impeached and discredited during cross examination by comparing the evidence he had made in his Statements at the Police vis-a-vis his testimony in Court.

Further, Counsel submitted that the lnvestigation team influenced PWS to select the appellant at the identification parade which depreciated his evidence. That the Court Record shows that the lnvestigating officers gave PWS the details and information about the appellant prior to the identification. That this contravened the law of credible identification during an identification parade to the effect that you should not influence the identifying witness in any way. For this

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submission, Counsel relied on the case of Sentale Vs Uqanda. [19681 1 EA 365. That as ^a result, the credibility of the evidence on identification of the appellant by PW5 was adversely affected.

Counsel concluded by submitting that the failure of the trial judge to properly evaluate the circumstantial evidence and instead convicting the Appellant on the basis of the weakness of his defence was an error that occasioned the Appellant a miscarriage of justice.

105 110 With regard to ground 3, Counsel submitted that the sentence imposed by the trial court was harsh and severe on account of the failure of the trial judge to take into consideration all the mitigating factors and how it would affect the appellant as a family man with five children deserving of his care and guidance. Further, that it was out of range with sentences imposed in cases of a similar nature. For this submission, Counsel quoted the case of Ainobushobozi Vs Uqanda Criminal Anpeal No. 242 of 2014 where the Court of Appeal held that the sentence that was imposed on the Appellant in that case was manifestly excessive and harsh for being out of range with sentences imposed in cases of a similar nature.

Counsel invited this court to allow the appeal and set aside the conviction and sentence.

## Respondent's Written Replv:

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Counsel opposed the appeal and supported both the conviction and sentence against the Appellant by the trial Court.

ln reply to grounds one and two of the appeal, Counsel did not agree that the learned trial Judge relied on weak circumstantial evidence to convict the Appellant. Counsel submitted that the circumstantial evidence as accepted by the trial Court was that the deceased was killed on 02.02.2013 around Matugga in Wakiso District and motor vehicle Premio registration number UAS 713M which he was driving was robbed from him. That on 04.02.2013, the Appellant was in possession of the vehicle at Ariwara in the Democratic Republic of Congo looking for ^a

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130 buyer for the same. That PW5, a motor vehicle broker, met the Appellant and connected him to one Bebe Alhaji to whom the Appellant sold the vehicle. That in his evidence, PWS implicated the Appellant as the person with whom he saw motor vehicle Toyota Premio registration number UAS 713M on 04.02.2013. That subsequently, PW5 was able to identify the Appellant at an identification parade, That there was no evidence adduced to impeach the credibility of PW5. That the alleged statement sought to be relied on by the appellant's counsel to contradict the evidence of PW5 was not tendered into Court. That there is no evidence that the Police investigation team influenced PW5 to select the Appellant at the identification parade held in Luzira Prisons. That there are no co-existing circumstances to weaken the circumstantial evidence against the Appellant as brought out by the evidence of PWS.

Counsel further submitted that in his defence, the Appellant denied ever giving PW5 a vehicle to sell and raised an alibi to the effect that on 02.02.2013 he was an inmate at Luzira Prison where he was serving a sentence. That the evidence by a court witness (cw1), ACP Twesigye Celestine showed that as at 02.02.2013, the Appellant was not at Luzira Prisons. That he had escaped on 20.10.2011 and was re-arrested on 17.10.2013 and taken back to Luzira Prisons. That, accordingly, between 02.02.2013 and 04.02.2013 the appellant was at large and therefore he had opportunity to commit the offences charged.

140 Counsel concluded that the trial Judge was satisfied about the truthfulness of the evidence of PWS, the single identifying witness after warning himself of the danger of convicting the accused on such evidence. That he considered all the evidence on record from the prosecution and the defence and came to the right conclusion that the prosecution had proved both offences against the Appellant. Accordingly, Counsel invited this court to uphold the decision of the trial court and dismiss grounds 1 and 2.

145 ln reply to ground three, Counsel submitted that the sentence against the appel harsh and severe sentence as claimed. That the trial court considered all the aggravating factors. That over and above was the fact that the convict lant was not a mitigating and had two oast ')./,r,-1

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convictions for the offence of stealing motor vehicles and a conviction for escaping from lawful custody. That he was thus a habitual offender. That no compelling reason has been advanced to warrant this Court interfering with the sentence passed against the Appellant by the trial Court.

Counsel concluded by praying that the appeal be dismissed, and the conviction and sentences against the Appellant be upheld.

#### Appellant's Reioinder:

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155 160 ln rejoinder to the submissions of the Respondent that the Police Statements of PWS were never tendered in Court as exhibits so as to be relied upon and/or to prove their contents, Counsel submitted that the contents of those statements can be proved orally without necessary tendering in court the document as long as the person admits their contents and existence. That proof of the contents of documents is either by primary or secondary evidence and that the Court can rely on either of them to assess the proof of a fact in issue. For this submission Counsel relied on Sections 60, 62(a) and 64(1Xb) of the Evidence Act.

Counsel concluded this point by submitting that PUJ5 gave oral accounts of the contents of the Statements that he made at Arua Police Station and Kasangati Police Station which impeached his credibility by the adverse party during cross examination in accordance with Section 154(c) of the Evidence Act.

ln response to the submission by the Respondent's Counsel that the Court Witness discredited the appellant's alibi and led evidence that the appellant was at large and, as such, he had an opportunity to commit the offences charged, Counsel submitted that this by itself was not enough to place the appellant at the scene of the crime. That an accused should never be convicted on the weakness of his defence.

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With regard to the denial by the Respondent's Counsel that the investigation team influenced pWS to select the accused out of the Parade, Counsel submitted that the court record indicates that PW5 stated in Court that he was told to go and identify Kalule out of others which contravened the Rules of Parade ldentification as set out in the Sentale case (supra).

775 180 ln rejoinder to ground 3, Counsel submitted that the Appellant was not a habitual offender because in respect of the charge of escape from lafful custody, he appealed, and the conviction and sentence were set aside. That the other charges of stealing vehicles were never heard and concluded which means that the Appellant is still an innocent person. That in essence, the Appellant had only two convictions and that does not fit him within the description of "habitual offende/'.

Counsel submitted that it was an error for the learned trial Judge to rely on offences that were not yet concluded to punish the appellant harshly since he is still presumed innocent under Article 28(3)(a) of the Constitution.

Counsel prayed that this Court finds merit in his submissions to justify interfering with the i.8s sentence of the trial Court.

#### Resol ion of th A al:

The gist of the appellant's complaint in grounds one and two of the appeal is whether the appellant participated in the murder of the late Zziwa John Bosco and the robbery, by aggravation, of motor vehicle registration number UAS 713M Toyota Premio, Silver Grey in

1eo colour as indicted,

It is the appellant's case that the circumstantial evidence relied upon by the trial ;udge to convict the appellant was weak and discredited during cross-examination and did not place the appellant at the scene of crime. On the other hand, it is the respondent's case that there is no

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ln those circumstances, it is our duty, as the 1sr appellate court, to reappraise all material evidence that was adduced before the trial court and come to our own conclusions of fact and law while making allowance for the fact we neither saw nor heard the witnesses testify. See Rule 30(1)(a) of the Judicature (Court of Appeal Rules) Directions, Baquma Fred Vs Uqanda 2oo SCCA No. ⁷ of 2004. Kfumante Henrv Vs Uqanda SCCA No. 10 of 1997. and Pandva Vs ^R t19571EA 336

205 A close analysis of the evidence on the court record shows that the prosecution sought to prove the participation of the appellant in the commission of the offences through linking him to Motor Vehicle Registration No. UAS 713M Toyota Premio which was robbed from the deceased at the time of his murder on or about the 02'o or 3'o of February 2013, taken to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and allegedly sold by the Appellant using PW5 as the motor vehicle broker

2L0 21,5 PW6 Steven Owor testified that the deceased was employed as a driver by Deboro Car Hire Enterprises. That he was on night duty. That on 02no February 2013 at about 6PM he left the company offices then located on Diamond Trust Building, Kampala Road, Kampala while driving the company Motor Vehicle Registration No. UAS 7'13M Toyota Premio. He never returned to office. They tried to call his phone number, but it was off. So, he reported his disappearance to Police at the Central Police Station, Kampala. That on 04th February ²⁰¹³ around 4PM, he received a call from Matugga informing them that Zziwa's body was found in the bush and that he was murdered. And that the body had been taken to Mulago Mortuary' That he went to Mulago Hospital Mortuary and confirmed the dead body to be that of Zziwa' After the postmortem, the body was handed over to the relatives on the same day and it was buried in Masaka.

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- That after about one year, around the beginning of March 2014, the witness received a call from Arua Police Station informing him about the recovery of the Motor Vehicle Registration 220 No. UAS 713M, Toyota Premio. That the vehicle was thereafter brought to Kasangati Police Station. PW6 went to Kasangati Police Station with the original logbook of the vehicle to confirm that it was the witness's vehicle which the deceased was driving. He found the vehicle had no number plates. But that its registration number engraved on its wind screen and side mirrors was still visible despite the fact that the marks had been tampered with. That the Police 225 officers opened the car engine and confirmed that its Engine and Chasis Numbers corresponded with those in the Logbook presented by PW6. That eventually the vehicle was handed over to the witness by the police and he acknowledged receipt by signing the Release Pass Form of the Police. - PW1, No. 30503 Detective Corporal Obalang Michael, testified that on 04^th February 2013 230 while on duty at Matugga Police Station, they received a call from one Mugagga Bbosa, the LC1 Chairman of Buwoozi, informing them about a dead body that had been found lying in Buzume Village LC1, Sanga along Matugga - Semuto Road. That he, together with some other Police officers went to the scene. They found a dead body of an unknown man that had been dumped in a swamp with both hands and legs tied. That the witness was able to 235 establish the identity of the dead man as Zziwa John Bosco using the Voters' Card and photo on his ID which were found in the pockets of clothes that he was wearing. Thereafter the witness drew the Sketch Plan of the scene of crime, interviewed some witnesses at the scene and using the Police Patrol Car transported the dead body to the City Mortuary, Mulago Hospital for postmortem examination. 240

PW3 Dr. Kitayimbwa Mayinja testified that he works for the Uganda Police Force as a Government Pathologist or Police Surgeon. That at the request of Matugga Police, on 04^th February 2013 he examined the body of the deceased and established that the cause of his death was suffocation as a result of strangulation by rope in his neck. The Post-mortem

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²⁴⁵ Report No. 285t2013 containing his findings was tendered in evidence by the witness as Exhibit PE3.

pW5, yenga Amanga Blaize, testified that that he was a broker for houses and motor vehicles in the DRC. That on the 04tn of February 2013 while he was at his point of work in Ariwara, DRC, the owner of a lodge known as Oseya Dedogi Lodge, approached him and informed him that one of his customers, the appellant, had a business for him namely, sale of his motor vehicle, Toyota Premio UAS 713M. That the Lodge owner was in the company of four others who included the appellant. And that at the time, the vehicle was being kept at the lodge where the appellant was likewise staying. That PWS offered to find a buyer for the appellant and after ^aperiod of two days of searching for buyers, PW5 found a buyer known as Bebe Al-hajji. That the appellant successfully sold the vehicle to Bebe and PW5 got his commission on the sale of 10Y0.

260 PW5 further testified that after about one year, on '14th March 2014,he got information that the Uganda Police had impounded the vehicle from a Congolese man who was in Arua at the time. That the Uganda Police subsequently went to DRC to ask for permission to anest the witness (pW5). That the witness was anested and taken to Arua to make a Statement. That in the Statement, he stated that he was a mere dealer but the person who brought the vehicle to him for sale was "Kalu/e Muganda".

265 o. /, 2/s\' That he was informed by the police that there was a gentleman known as Kalule who had just been anested by the Flying Squad of the Uganda Police in respect of another case and that he (pW5) would be taken to Kampala for purposes of identifying whether the person arrested was the one he had dealt with. That from Arua, the witness was taken to Kasangati Police Station in Wakiso District. Thereafter the witness was taken to Luzira Prison where the identification parade was conducted. Out of the 8 suspects on the parade, he was able to identify the appellant, by touching him and confirming that he was the "Kalule Muganda" he had all along

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istration No. UAS 713M, Toyota Premi 270 been refening who brought him Motor Vehicle Reg

PW2, Detective Assistant lnspector of Police Opio John Bosco, testified that on 22no March 2014 while at Kasangati Police Statron, he received a file that was transferred from Matugga to Kasangati Police Station for purposes of completing the investigation of the case of murder and robbery by Zziwa John Bosco. That shortly after receiving the file, he received from D/lP Omona Alfred of Arua Police Station, PW5, Yenga Amanga alias Blaise and a motor vehicle. At that time, PW5 was a suspect while the vehicle, Reg. No. UAS 713M Toyota Premio, silver in colour came with the DRC registration number 24431AN25.

280 That upon receiving the suspect and vehicle, PW2 checked the vehicle carefully and found that there were marks of the registration number on the vehicle indicators, mirrors, windows and wind glasses. That it bore UAS 713M which was partly tampered with. That he entered the particulars of the vehicle in the Exhibit Records Book namely: Motor Vehicle Toyota Corona Premio, silver in colour, Registration No. UAS 713M, Engine N0.7AG803809, Chassis No. AT2110059588 with the identification marks on glasses.

28s PW2 also entered in the Exhibits Record Book the DRC number plate found on the vehicle namely, 24431AA25 which was likewise handed over to him by D/lP Omona Alfred. The Exhibits Record Book was admitted in evidence as Exhibit "PE2".

PW2 further testified that he subsequently interviewed PW5 who told him that on the 6th day of February 2013, the appellant, whom he knew as "Kalule Muganda", went to him in DRC Congo with motor vehicle No. UAS 713M, Toyota Premio, silver in colour. And that PW5, being a property broker, assisted him get a buyer for it in return for a commission.

PW2 went on to state that after he had obtained the information from PWS, the police started questioning themselves as to where Kalule could be. That they subsequently got the information from their counterpart in the Flying Squad who had already known of Kalule's arrest for another case and that he was in Luzira Prison. That PW2 thereafter asked PWS whether he could identify Kalule if he saw him. PW2 stated that after getting confirmation from

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the appellant, Kasangati lnvestigation Department wrote to the Prison Headquarters requesting for permission to go to Luzira Prison to interview Kalule and have an identification parade conducted there.

That after the Prison Headquarters granted them permission, PW2 and PW4 D/AIP Ngobi went to Luzira with PW5. That PW2 interviewed the appellant after D/AIP Ngobi conducted the identification parade for PW5 to identify the appellant. That after the interview, the appellant refused to sign the Police Statement.

PW4, AIP Ngobi lsaac, testified that he is a Police Officer attached to Kawempe Police Station. That in 2014 while he was still attached to Kasangati Police Station, he was approached by his colleague who was the lnvestigating Officer in this case, D/AlP Opio, with a request to help him conduct an ldentiflcation Parade in Luzira Upper Prison where Kalule Musa alias Sam was being held. PW4 stated that at that time he did not know the appellant; it was D/AIP Opio who told him that the suspect was in Luzira. He likewise did not know PW5; he was introduced to him by D/AIP while he was in the custody of Kasangati Police Station.

310 PW4 tes1fied that before proceeding to Luzira with PW5, he interacted with him and briefed him about what was going to happen at the identification parade namely: that he was going to meet a group of people among whom he may or may not find a particular suspect. But that if he found the suspect, he should identify him by touching.

315 That as they had already obtained clearance from the Prisons Authorities, when they reached Luzira Prison, he was given some Prisons Wardens to help him in organizing the parade as he left PWS in one of the Oflices in the Prison.

That after organizing the 8 volunteers who were going to be on the parade, PW4 met the appellant. That he briefed him about the identification parade and the reasons why there was going to be an ldentification Parade. That the appellant was okay with his explanation and

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320 pW4 told him to join the line. That he told him to take any position he wanted either first, last or in the middle and that then the appellant joined the line.

That he thereafter called for PW5 and because he had already briefed him about the parade, on reaching there, he told him to identify the person in question. That PW5 walked and managed to touch the appellant who was in the middle. That all the volunteers signed on the ldentification Parade form and so did the appellant. The form was tendered in evidence in court and marked Exhibit PE4.

On his part, the appellant raised the defence ol alibi, He testified on oath that during the period of 2no February 2013 when the deceased was found dead and the motor vehicle he was driving robbed; he was an inmate at Luzira Prison. That during that period, he was serving ^a five and a half years' sentence for smuggling supper Match cigarettes from Kenya, before he

escaped from prison. He denied having been to DRC around that time as stated by PW5.

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With regard to the identification parade, the appellant admitted that it was true that it had been carried out at Luzira Prison and that PWS identified him from the other prisoners' However, he denied having known PW5 before that.

335 On closure of the appellant's defence, the trialjudge issued an order on 06'02'2018 directing the officer in charge of Luzira Upper Prison to appear as a court witness and specifically produce and exhibit in court the records of the appellant's stay at Luzira Prison for the period from 2010 to the date of the Court Order.

340 cw1 Twesigye celestine testified that she was the o/c Upper Prison. That in February ²⁰¹³ the appellant was not an inmate in Luzira Prison as claimed' She testified that Kalule Musa was first remanded to Uganda Government Prison on 30m of July 20'10 for two offences of Steating Motor Vehicle C/S 265 in Criminal Case N0.571 of 2010 at Nakawa Court and N0.573 of 2010. That the case in file N0.571 of 2010 was dismissed on 7th March 2011 while he was nment. That ,'7-, convicted in respect of file N0.573 of 2010 and sentenced to four years' impriso

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- 345 while in prison, another charge of stealing a motor vehicle was prefened against him in Criminal Case N0.997 of 2009. That he pleaded guilty on 22nt July 2011 and was convicted and sentenced to a term of one and a half years' imprisonment by Nakawa Grade One Magistrate's Court. - 3s0 355 360 CW1 further stated that on 3'o October 2011, Kalule was again charged with the offence of Stealing a motor vehicle in criminal case N0.996 of 2009 though there was no record of its disposal. That on the 24th June 2011, he was charged with the offence of stealing a motor vehicle in Nakawa Court Case N0.354 of 2011. That this case had several adlournments up to 13rh September 2011 and that the Prison had no record of disposal of the case. That the appellant was on 28th June 2011 again charged with the offence of stealing a motor vehicle in Nakawa Court Case N0.362 of 2011. That he appeared in court for this case on various occasions till 3,0 October 2011 because the case was adjourned to 1't November 2011 for judgment. That unfortunately, the appellant escaped from Kampala Remand Prison (Boma) on 20rh October 2011 and the Prison had no court record of disposal of the case. That Kalule Musa was re-arrested on 17th October 2013 and he was taken to Luzira Upper Prison. He was later charged before Luzira Magistrates Court with escaping from laMul custody and on 1 1rh of November 2013 he was convicted and sentenced to three years' imprisonment That he successfully appealed against his conviction and the sentence of three years was set aside. - That on the 16rn of May 2014, Kalule was charged with the offence of murder at Kasangati Court in Case N0.24 of 2014. That he escaped from Kasangati Court on 11m July 2014 when he had been produced for mention in this very matter. That he was later re-arrested on 30tn July 2016 and brought back to Upper Prison where he was incarcerated to date.

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CW1 therefore confirmed that on the 2no of February 2013, Kalule Musa was at large as he had escaped from Prison during that period

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When dealing with the issue of participation of the appellant in the commission of the offence of murder of the deceased, the trial judge rightly observed that resolution of the issue was premised majorly on the circumstantial evidence of PW5. Then he went ahead to evaluate the evidence of the prosecution and found that through the evidence of PW6, it was proved that the deceased was last seen on the 2^nd February 2013 with the Motor Vehicle and he was reported dead on the 4^th February 2013. That the appellant was seen in possession of the vehicle on the 4^th of February 2013 by PW5 at Ariwara, DRC before he sold it to Bebe Alhaj 375 using the services of PW5 as a broker. That it took PW5 two days from his first interaction with the appellant to secure the buyer for him, which period constituted ample time and favourable conditions for PW5 to identify the appellant during that time. That this was confirmed by the subsequent identification of the appellant from the Parade at Luzira Prison by PW5. That the appellant endorsed the Identification Parade Report which certified that he agreed with the 380 procedures followed in the exercise. The trial judge then concluded that on account of the doctrine of recent possession and proper identification by PW5, the appellant had been squarely placed at the scene of crime by the prosecution. As such, he had to offer an explanation as to how he had come to be in possession of the stolen vehicle.

The accused denied participation in the offences he was charged with and claimed that at the 385 time the vehicle disappeared and the deceased was found dead he was an inmate a Luzira serving a prison sentence following his conviction for smuggling cigarettes. However, from the evidence of the Court witness, court found that the alibi was false. That the Prison records tendered into court by the court witness proved that at the material time the accused had escaped from lawful custody and was at large. And that he had been serving a sentence for 390 stealing a motor vehicle before escaping from Prison.

The trial judge concluded his analysis thus:

"On evaluating the evidence of both PW5 and that of the accused, I find the evidence of PW5 relating to the possession of the vehicle by the accused in DRC on $\frac{1}{6}$ the 4th of February 2013 more credible than the discredited alibi of the accused.

Why did he have to tell lies about where he was on the 2^nd February 2013? Why did the accused have to lie about the offence he had been convicted of before escaping from Prison? Why did the accused also have to lie about the number of times he had escaped from lawful custody? I find the alibi fronted by the accused to be an afterthought that lacks credibility.

I find the fabricated alibi, the lies about the reasons for being in Luzira Prison, the proximity of the period between the disappearance of the vehicle and the appearance in Congo, to be cogent corroborating evidence circumstantial evidence about the death of Zziwa John Bosco. The accused is by that evidence squarely placed at the scene of crime by the prosecution. Bogere Moses & Anor V Uganda, SC Criminal Appeal No.1/1997"

With regard to the offence of aggravated robbery the trial judge later in his judgment said:

"It is a fact that the participation of the accused is inferred from circumstantial evidence in this case since nobody saw him commit the offence. The evidence of PW5, who saw him in possession of the motor vehicle on the 4th February 2013 410 sufficiently linked him to the crime. This was only two days after its disappearance and it is not the kind of item that changes hands at a fast rate, like any other consumables. PW5 ably identified the accused in an identification parade. The evidence of PW5 was further corroborated by the defective alibi raised by the accused... 415

> I am alive to the need to warn myself of the danger of convicting the accused on the evidence of PW5 as the single identifying witness in this case. I am convinced that he was truthful, he ably identified the accused and his testimony was corroborated by the discredited alibi raised by the accused. I find the accused guilty as charged and accordingly convict him."

The analysis of the evidence, application of the law and conclusion of the trial judge cannot be faulted. His approach to the resolution of the issue of the appellant's participation was in accordance with the doctrine of "recent possession" which was reiterated by the Supreme Court in the case of *Kakooza Godfrey v Uganda SCCA No.3 of 2008* thus:

"... It ought to be realized that where evidence of recent possession of stolen 425 property is proved beyond reasonable doubt, it raises a very strong presumption of participation in the stealing, so that if there is no innocent explanation of the possession, the evidence is even stronger and more dependable than eyewitnesses' evidence of identification in a nocturnal event. This is especially so

because invariably the former is independently veifiable, while the later solely depends on the credibility of the eyewrfnesses'i

435 440 ln the instant case, the appellant was seen by PW5 in possession of the robbed vehicle on 06m February 2013 while looking for a buyer for it in DRC. This was after a period of only four days from the date of 02nd February 2013 when the deceased was last seen alive by PW6 at around 6pM at their offices in Kampala while the deceased was taking the robbed vehicle to do their usual special hire work. This period was too short for any other person who robbed the vehicle from the deceased to have sold off the same to the appellant since a vehicle by its nature is not one of those items that easily change hands. This raised a presumption that the appellant was either the robber or the receiver of the robbed vehicle. ln those circumstances, the appellant had the onus to give a reasonable explanation as to how he came in possession with the recently robbed vehicle. The appellant did not offer any explanation. lnstead, he set up an alibi to the effect that at the time the deceased was found dead and the motor vehicle he was driving robbed, he was an inmate at Luzira Prison. But this alibi was proved false by the O/C Upper Prison, CW1 Celestine Twesigye, who produced the Prisons records which confirmed that at the material time the appellant had escaped from Prison. ln the premises, the trial Judge cannot be faulted for finding that the appellant had participated in the robbery.

It is worth noting that the doctrine of recent possession of the same recently robbed vehicle was likewise used by the trial Judge to convict the appellant on the count of Murder. The murder of the deceased having taken place simultaneously with the robbery of the vehicle, which was found in the possession of the appellant, the trial Judge cannot be faulted for extending the application of the doctrine of recent possession to the murder charge in the circumstances. ln ^R Vs Bukai s/o Abdallah Ht( 194il 16 E. A. C. A 84 which was quoted with approval by the Supreme Court of Uganda in lzonqoza William Vs Uqanda, Cr' Appeal No. 6 of 1998, it was observed thus:

'Ihal cases often arise in which possesslon by an accused person of propefty proved to have been very recently sto/en has been hetd not only to supporl a Preswrytl2g of 455

burglary or of breaking and entering but murder as well, and if all circumstances of a case point to no other reasonable conclusion, the presumption can extend to any charge however penal."

Accordingly, grounds one and two of the appeal fail. 460

## **Ground Three – Sentences:**

The complaint of the Appellant under this ground is that the trial Court erred in law and fact when it passed a harsh and excessive sentence to the Appellant thus occasioning upon him a miscarriage of justice. Counsel submitted that the Court in passing out a harsh and severe sentence of 46 years and 4 months to the Accused/Appellant did not take into consideration all the mitigating factors and how it would affect him as he is a family man with five children deserving of his care and guidance.

On the other hand, Counsel for the respondent submitted that no compelling reason had been advanced by the appellant to warrant this Court interfering with the sentence passed against the Appellant by the trial Court. That the trial Court considered all the mitigating factors. 470 Further, the appellant was a habitual offender with two past convictions for the offence of stealing a motor vehicle and a conviction for escaping from lawful custody. That the court referred to him as a specialised car thief.

While sentencing the appellant, the trial court stated:

"The maximum sentence for a person convicted of murder is death. The same is the 475 maximum penalty for aggravated robbery. I will however not consider the death penalty. I have taken the fact that the convict has a family that deserves his care as a mitigating factor, I have also considered that at 33 years he can reform and be useful to society if he chooses to take that direction. Aggravating factors are that he is a specialised car thief as evidenced by the past two convictions for the same 480 offence and there are two more files pending judgment. The convict has also on two occasions escaped from the lawful custody. This is not a conduct of a person determined to reform. The convict lied on oath and did not show any remorse for his past conduct.

- 485 Considering all the above, I sentence the convict lo 50 years for aggravated robbery and 50 years for murder, both senlences to run concurrently. As provided by Article 23(8) of the Constitution, I will deduct the three years and eight months the convict has spent on remand. He will serue 46 years and 4 months stafting from today the 21't day of February 2018." - 490 From the above, it is quite clear that the trial court while sentencing the appellant took into consideration all the mitigating factors and the status of the appellant as a family man. The appellant has no basis for faulting the trial judge on that basis.

However, the sentence of 50 years' imprisonment on each count appears to be out of range with decided cases of the Supreme Court and Court of Appeal for similar offences and facts.

4ss ln Muhwezi Ba Vs Uqanda, Cout of al Criminal Appeal No. 198 of 2013, this court after reviewing numerous decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal in respect of sentences in murder cases stated thus:

> "Although the cicumstances of each case may celainly differ, this coui has now estab/lshed a range within which lhese sentences fall. The term of imprisonment for murder of a singte person ranges between 20 to 35 years' imprisonment. ln exceptional circumstances the sentence may be higher or lower'"

s00

More recently, in Senfuka Georqe William Vs Uoanda, Courl of Aooeal Crimtnal Appeal No. ⁴²⁰of 2016 a sentence of 40 years' imprisonment was imposed by this Court in our judgment dated 18th ltay 2021. ln that case, the appellant defiled the deceased in 2006 and the defilement was reported to the Police in 2007. Three days later, the appellant killed the victim, then a 16-year-old who he found at her home on a verandah peeling cassava, by fatally cutting her neck using a panga. ln passing the sentence of 40 years'imprisonment, this court inter alia took into account the law, The Law Reform (Penalties in Criminal Matters) (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act, 2019, which now sets the minimum punishment for life imprisonment at 50 years.

On the other hand, the sentence range for persons found guilty of committing aggravated robbery simultaneously with murder has not been different from the sentencing range in

C;V²⁰I

murder convictions only. ln Oianoole Peter Vs lJoanda, Supreme Court Criminal Appeal No.34 of 2017, the Supreme Court confirmed a sentence of 32 years'imprisonment imposed by the Court ofAppeal for the offence of aggravated robbery after deducting the period of 2 years and a half the appellant had spent on remand.

ln Guloba Rooers vs Uoanda. Cout of Appeal CriminaI Aopeal N0.57 of 2013 where the cause of Death of the deceased was multiple organ failure due to damage to the brain and the cervical spinal cord, the Court of Appeal set aside the sentence of 47 years' imprisonment imposed on the appellant for the offences of murder and aggravated robbery and substituted it with a sentence of 33 years and 7 months' imprisonment after deducting the period of 1 year and 5 months that the appellant spent on remand.

ln Budebo Kasto vs Uqanda. Courl Appeal Criminal Appeal No.0094 of 2009 the Court of Appeal upheld the sentence of life imprisonment for the offences of aggravated robbery and murder that was given by the trial judge.

530 53s According to Sentencing Principle No.6(c) of the Constitution (Sentencing Guidelines for Courts of Judicature) Practice Directions,2013 - Legal Notice No.8 of 2013 and Aharikundia Yustina Vs Uqanda, Su me Courl CriminaI AooealNo. 27 of 2015, the trial Court was under a legal obligation to consider the principle of "parity" and "consistency" in sentencing. As such, the failure of the trial judge to consider the principle of consistency in sentencing of the Appellant occasioning injustice would entitle this court to intervene and invoke Section 11 of the Judicature Act, Cap. 13. According to the often quoted case ol Kiwalabve Bernard Vs Uqanda. Supreme Courl Criminal Appeal No, 143 of ²⁰⁰¹ (unrepofted) this court, as a first appellant court, may interfere with the sentence imposed by the trial court if it shown that the sentence is illegal or founded upon a wrong principle of the law; or where the trial Court failed to take into account an important matter or circumstance; or made an error in principle; or imposed a sentence which is harsh and manifestly excessive in the circumstances.

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We accordingly set aside the sentences imposed by the trial ludge which were manifestly excessive in the circumstances of this case for being out of range with decided cases of similar facts and circumstances. We shall now proceed to sentence the Appellants afresh pursuant to Section 11 of the Judicature Act which provides as follows:

'11. Court of Appeal to have powers of the court of original iurisdiction.

Forthe purpose of hearing and determining an appeal, the Court of Appeal shall have allthe powers, authority and jurisdiction vested under any written law in the coui from the exercise of the original iurisdiction of which the appeal originally emanated'

ln our exercise of the above mandate, we hereby considered the factors and sentencing reasons given by the trial court and, in line with the principle of parity and consistency of sentences, consider the term of imprisonment of 40 years to be appropriate for each of the counts of murder and aggravated robbery.

## sso Decision.

- ¹, The conviction of the appellant of the offences of murder contrary to Sections 188 & 189 of the Penal Code Act and Aggravated Robbery contrary to Sections 285 & 286(2) of the Penal Code Act is upheld. - 2. The appeal against sentence is allowed and, accordingly, the sentences imposed by the High Court against the appellant for the offences of murder and aggravated robbery are hereby set aside. We now substitute the sentences as below. - 3. We sentence the appellant to 40 years' imprisonment on each one of the counts, Taking into account the 3 years and eight months spent by the appellant in pre-trial detention, he will serve a term of 36 years and four months' imprisonment on each of the Counts indicted. Both sentences shall run concurrently from the 13th day of February 2018, the date of conviction.

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We so order.

s50

Signed, dated and delivered this ....................................

KENNETH KAKURU

**Justice of Appeal**

cibeed

MUZAMIRU MUTANGULA KIBEEDI **Justice of Appeal**

$\mathbf{y}$ IRÉNE MULYAGONJA

**Justice of Appeal**