Police Officer Jailed For 18 Months over Gun Used In Murder of Indian Money Lender

A former police officer who admitted that his gun was used to kill an Indian money lender in Kampala has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.
Stephen Murombo, 34, who was formerly attached to Kampala Central Police Station (CPS), confessed that the gun used by his colleague Ivan Wabwire to kill Uttam Bhandari was his.
Murombo pleaded guilty to two charges of neglect of duty and failure to keep firearm and ammunition contrary to the Ugandan law through a plea bargain.
On Monday, Buganda Road grade one magistrate Fidelis Otwao accepted Murombo’s plea and sentenced him accordingly.
“The court finds that the accused voluntarily agreed to plead guilty with an understanding of the nature and consequences thereof, that any allegations as indicated in this form are true, and that there is a factual basis for the plea and admission(s). The court accepts the accused’s plea and orders that this agreement is incorporated in the docket by reference as though fully set forth therein,” reads in part, a plea bargain agreement signed by Otwao.
According to the agreement, Murombo voluntarily agreed to serve the sentence concurrently with the period so far spent in lawful custody.
Prosecution indicated that on May 12, at Central Police Station Kampala Division, being a person employed by the government as a police officer, Murombo neglected to perform his duty which he is required to perform by virtue of his employment to wit to protect the S.G rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition where Wabwire found it abandoned and used it for causing the death of Bhandari.
It was further alleged that Murombo left the firearm in a place where it was not supposed to be kept and the same was stolen by Wabwire who was not entitled to it.