[2009] UGCA 38

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{\insrsid13648119 \chftnsepc \par }}\sectd \linemod5\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sectrsid16333490\sftnbj {\footer \pard\plain \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\pvpara\phmrg\posxc\posy0\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4806841 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\field{\*\fldinst {\cs17\insrsid16333490 PAGE }}{\fldrslt {\cs17\lang1024\langfe1024\noproof\insrsid16340937 4}}}{\cs17\insrsid16333490 \par }\pard \s16\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\tqc\tx4153\tqr\tx8306\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid16333490 \par }}{\*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{\*\pnseclvl4\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}} {\*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl8 \pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{\*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 \fs24\lang2057\langfe2057\cgrid\langnp2057\langfenp2057 {\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par \par IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT KAMPALA \par \par \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 CORAM:\tab HON. JUSTICE S. G. ENGWAU, JA \par \tab \tab HON. A. TWINOMUJUNI, JA \par \tab \tab HON. C. N. B. KITUMBA, JA \par \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.52/2002 \par \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 KAMUKAMA MOSES\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.. APPELLANT \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 V E R S U S \par \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 UGANDA\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85}{\b\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 \'85...}{ \b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 \'85\'85\'85\'85\'85\'85.. RESPONDENT \par \par \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 [Appeal against the decision of }{\b\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 \par }{\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 the High Court of Uganda at Mbarara (P. K. Mugamba,J) }{\b\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 \par dated 19 April 2002 in H. C. C. S C}{\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 ase No.166 of 2000] \par }{\b\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 \par }{\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 \par }\pard \ql \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\ul\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 JUDGMENT OF THE COURT: \par \par }{\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 This is an appeal against conviction and sentence whereby the }{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 appellant}{\insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 was convicted of the offence of Aggravated Robbery c/s 272 and 273(2) of the Penal Code}{\insrsid8404246\charrsid16340937 Act and was sentenced to death. }{\insrsid11427088\charrsid16340937 \par \par }{\insrsid8404246\charrsid16340937 The brief facts of the case are that on 28}{\super\insrsid8404246\charrsid16340937 th}{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 M}{\insrsid8404246\charrsid16340937 arch 1999, thugs broke into the house of James Bitwababo at Rwemirabyo village,}{\insrsid3960434\charrsid16340937 Bu}{\insrsid8404246\charrsid16340937 mbaire }{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 Sub County}{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 in Bushenyi D} {\insrsid8404246\charrsid16340937 istrict. James Bitwababo (PW3) and Anne Bitwababo his wife (PW2) were at home. The thugs tied them up and beat them while demanding for money. PW3 surrendered Ug. Shs.75,000/=. After a sustained attack on the ho}{ \insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 u}{\insrsid8404246\charrsid16340937 se lasting about 2 hours and because of continued alarm from the }{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 complainants}{\insrsid6449315\charrsid16340937 , the thugs left. PW4, PW5, PW6 who were running to the house met some of the thugs leaving the house of PW3. They recognised the 1}{\super\insrsid6449315\charrsid16340937 st}{\insrsid6449315\charrsid16340937 appellant who had also been recognised by the wife (PW2) of the complainant. Two of the suspects were subsequently arrested and charged as already stated. They denied the offence. They were convicted and sentenced accordingly. Hence this appeal.}{ \insrsid9460292\charrsid16340937 \par }{\insrsid6449315\charrsid16340937 \par Their}{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 Memorandum of A}{\insrsid6449315\charrsid16340937 ppeal filed on 8}{\super\insrsid6449315\charrsid16340937 th}{\insrsid6449315\charrsid16340937 June 2009 has the fo}{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 llowing grounds of appeal}{\insrsid6449315\charrsid16340937 -}{\insrsid9839557\charrsid16340937 \par }\pard \qj \fi-720\li1440\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin1440\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9839557\charrsid16340937 \'93 1) }{\b\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 \tab }{\b\insrsid9839557\charrsid16340937 That the learned trial judge erred in law in convicting the appellant for aggravated robbery in the absence of evidence }{\b\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 to}{\b\insrsid9839557\charrsid16340937 connect him with the offence. \par 2) }{\b\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 \tab }{\b\insrsid9839557\charrsid16340937 That the learned judge erred in law in con}{\b\insrsid1604527\charrsid16340937 victing the appellant on the basis of }{\b\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 unreliable}{ \b\insrsid1604527\charrsid16340937 evidence of identification.}{\b\insrsid9839557\charrsid16340937 \par }{\b\insrsid1604527\charrsid16340937 3) }{\b\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 \tab }{\b\insrsid1604527\charrsid16340937 That the learned judge erred in law in rejecting }{\b\insrsid7892508\charrsid16340937 the appellants alibi which ought to have raised a }{\b\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 reasonable}{\b\insrsid7892508\charrsid16340937 doubt.}{\b\insrsid1604527\charrsid16340937 \par }\pard \qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\insrsid7892508\charrsid16340937 The gist of this appeal is that the trial judge erred to convict the appel lant when there was no evidence to connect him with the offence. It is }{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 averred}{\insrsid7892508\charrsid16340937 for the appellant that the evidence produced by the prosecution was not reliable and did not put the appellant at the scene of crime. The trial judge is criticised for refusing to believe the appellant}{\insrsid11427088\charrsid16340937 \rquote }{ \insrsid7892508\charrsid16340937 s alibi which was}{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 not contrad}{\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 icted.}{\insrsid7892508\charrsid16340937 \par }{\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 \par In his argument in support of the grounds of appeal, Mr. Edward Mugogo, learned counsel}{\insrsid11427088\charrsid16340937 ,}{\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 submitted that the learned trial judge relied on unreliable evidence of PW2}{ \insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 }{\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 (wife of the complainant). He contended that PW2 did not tell the witnesses who answered the alarm (PW4, PW5) that she had recognised the appellant among the robbers. He argued further that there was no direct evidence linking the appellant with the robbery. He cited the cases o f }{\b\ul\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 Abdulla Bin }{\b\ul\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 Wendo}{\b\ul\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 (1952) 20 EACA 166}{\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 and }{\b\ul\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 Roria vs Republic [1967] E. A. 583}{\insrsid13580868\charrsid16340937 to support his submissions. He submitted that in absence of credible evidence putting the appellant at the scene of crime, his alibi should have been accepted. \par \par In reply, Ms Josep hine Namatovu, a Senior State Attorney did not agree. She submitted that the appellant who was well known in the village was identified by PW2. In view of the fact that the robbery took over two hours and in view of the availability of torch and moonlig ht, she could not have been mistaken. Her evidence was corroborated by the evidence of PW5 and PW7 who met the appellant moving away from the scene of crime where an alarm was being raised. \par }{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 \par Their evidence was also corroborated}{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 by the evidence of PW4 and}{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 PW}{\insrsid3960434\charrsid16340937 7}{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 . The learned trial judge warned himself of the danger of convicting on uncorroborated evidence and found that there was sufficient corroboration in this case. In her view there was sufficient evidence to support a conviction. Her pray}{ \insrsid3960434\charrsid16340937 er}{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 was that we uphold the conviction and the sentence. \par \par We have carefully evaluated all the evidence on record as we are duty bound to do under section 30 of the Court of Appeal Rules. We have }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 borne}{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 in mind that we did not have the advantage }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 available}{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 to the trial judge to observe the witnesses as they gave evidence. The only issue in this appeal is identification. \par \par The learned trial judge relied on the evidence of PW2, the wife of the complainant and PW4, PW5 and P7, all of whom are neighbours of the }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 victims}{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 of this rob bery. He saw their demeanour in court and believed them as truthful witnesses. PW2 saw and recognised the appellant whom she had long known as a villagemate. She recognised him with the}{\insrsid11427088\charrsid16340937 help of torch light from the t }{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 o}{\insrsid11427088\charrsid16340937 r}{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 ches which the}{\insrsid11171361\charrsid16340937 thieves were flashing around during the robbery. She told }{\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 the neighbours, PW4, PW5 and}{\insrsid14754451\charrsid16340937 PW7 who answered the alarm that she had recognised the appellant. This evidence was corroborated by the evidence of PW4, PW5 and PW7 who met the appellant as he moved from the scene of cr ime while they were going to the scene to }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 answer}{\insrsid14754451\charrsid16340937 the alarm.}{\insrsid3960142\charrsid16340937 \par }{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 \par The trial judge considered all this evidence together with the evidence of the appellant. The appellant testified }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 that}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 on the night of robbery he was sleeping at his }{ \insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 home}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 . He never heard of the robbery }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 at}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 the home of the }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 victim}{ \insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 . He admitted that he and all prosecution witnesses lived in same village and he was well known to them. After considering this evidence, the trial judge rejected it because he had accepted the evidence of prosecution wi tnesses whose evidence he believed and found that it put the appellant at the scene of crime. After our re-}{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 evaluation}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 of all the evidence, we are satisfied that there was overwhelming evidence on record to justify the conviction of the appellant for the offence of robbery with aggravation. We }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 agree}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 with the trial judge and uphold the }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 conviction}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 of the appellant for the offence. This appeal is therefore dismissed. \par \par We asked counsel to address us on the appropriateness of the sentence of death against the appellant. Counsel for the appellant asked us to pass a }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 lenient}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 sentence because the appellant is a }{\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 y}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 oungman of 32 years with two children. He suggested that we impose a sentence of 5 years imprisonment instead. Ms Namatovu, learned counsel for the respondent maintained that the offence}{\insrsid3809204\charrsid16340937 was }{ \insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 committed}{\insrsid3809204\charrsid16340937 in aggravating circumstances. She prayed that the sentence of death be upheld.}{\insrsid12463586\charrsid16340937 \par }{\insrsid3809204\charrsid16340937 \par We have stated that the appellant was r}{\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 ightly convicted of Aggravated R}{\insrsid3809204\charrsid16340937 obbery as charged. However, a death sentence on such a n offender is no longer mandatory if circumstances exist to justify a lesser sentence. We have taken into account that the commission }{\insrsid11427088\charrsid16340937 of the offence took over two h}{\insrsid3809204\charrsid16340937 our}{ \insrsid11427088\charrsid16340937 s}{\insrsid3809204\charrsid16340937 . The robbers were heavily armed with }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 pangas}{\insrsid3809204\charrsid16340937 but looking at the injuries inflicted on their victims, they appear to have acted with restraint. They could have done much more physical harm than they did. This should count in favour of the appellant. We also note that the appellan}{\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 t was aged 25 years at the time}{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 he committed the offence. However, the offence he committed is very serious carrying a death sentence. He has already served}{\insrsid16333490\charrsid16340937 7 years wh}{ \insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 ile waiting for the court process to end. We consider that in the circumstances, the death sentence against the appellant be set aside and }{\insrsid8342849\charrsid16340937 as}{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 se ntence of life imprisonment be substituted instead. It is so ordered. \par }\pard \qc \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 Dated}{\insrsid1072183\charrsid16340937 at Kampala}{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 this }{ \insrsid9007169\charrsid16340937 27}{\super\insrsid9007169\charrsid16340937 th}{\insrsid9007169\charrsid16340937 }{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 day of }{\insrsid9007169\charrsid16340937 August }{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 2009. \par Hon. Justice S. G. Engwau \par }{\b\ul\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }{\b\ul\insrsid9007169\charrsid16340937 \par }{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 Hon. Justice A. Twinomujuni \par }{\b\ul\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }{\b\ul\insrsid9007169\charrsid16340937 \par }{\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 Hon. Justice C. N. B. Kitumba \par }{\b\ul\insrsid14051312\charrsid16340937 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }\pard \ql \li720\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid16340937 {\b\insrsid9839557\charrsid16340937 \par }}