October 23, 2023
KAMPALA, Uganda | Former Police Constable (PC) Stephen Murombo, who served at Kampala Central Police Station (CPS), has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in a case involving the use of his firearm in the killing of an Indian money lender, Uttam Bhandari.
The tragic incident occurred on Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala and has raised questions about the responsibilities and duties of police officers. Murombo, aged 34, confessed that the gun used in the crime was indeed his. Through a plea bargain agreement, he admitted to two charges: neglect of duty and failure to properly secure a firearm and ammunition, as stipulated by Ugandan law.
On Monday, Murombo pleaded guilty before Buganda Road grade one magistrate Fidelis Otwao, who later handed down the 18-month prison sentence. The court acknowledged that the accused had voluntarily agreed to plead guilty, fully understanding the implications of his admission. According to the plea bargain agreement, Murombo voluntarily agreed to serve his sentence concurrently with the time he has already spent in lawful custody.
The prosecution alleges that on May 12, at Central Police Station Kampala Division, Murombo, in his capacity as a police officer, neglected to fulfill his duty to protect a submachine gun (S.G rifle) and 120 rounds of ammunition. His negligence resulted in his colleague, Ivan Wabwire, accessing the abandoned firearm, which was later used in the tragic incident leading to Bhandari’s death.
The prosecution further alleged that Murombo had left the firearm in an improper location, facilitating its theft by Wabwire, who was not authorized to possess it.
