Chombe Emmanuel vS. Uganda (Crim. Appeal No. 74 of 2005) [2010] UGCA 45 (8 November 2010) | Sentencing Principles | Esheria

Chombe Emmanuel vS. Uganda (Crim. Appeal No. 74 of 2005) [2010] UGCA 45 (8 November 2010)

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\li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4333077 \f36\fs22\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 THE REPUBLIC OF UGANDA \par IN THE }{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid11277860\charrsid13768448 COURT OF APPEAL OF UGANDA AT M}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 BARARA \par \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 CRIMINAL APPEAL NO.74 OF 2005 \par \par }\pard \s20\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4333077 {\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 \par }{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 CHOMBE EMMANUEL ......}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4333077\charrsid13768448 ..........}{ \b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 .........................}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4333077\charrsid13768448 ...........}{ \b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 ................... APPELLANT \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 \par }\pard \s20\qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4333077 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 V E R S U S \par }\pard \s20\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4333077 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 \par UGANDA ................}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4333077\charrsid13768448 ..............................}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 ......................................... RESPONDENT \par \par \par CORAM: \tab HON. JUSTICE A. TWINOMUJUNI, JA \par }\pard \s20\qj \fi720\li720\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin720\itap0\pararsid4333077 {\b\f0\fs24\lang1053\langfe1033\langnp1053\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 HON. JUSITCE S. B. K. KAVUMA, JA \par }{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13768448\charrsid13768448 HON. JUSTICE M. S.}{\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid7618168\charrsid13768448 ARACH AMOKO, JA \par }\pard \s20\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4333077 {\b\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 \par }\pard \s20\qj \li0\ri0\sl360\slmult1\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4333077 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 Mr. Vincent Okwanga Senior Principal State Attorney}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13768448\charrsid13768448 ,}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 for the respondent. \par Ms Lydia Ahibisibwe}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid13768448\charrsid13768448 , }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 for the appellant on State brief \par Ms Lydia Tuhirwe Court Clerk. \par \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 Ms }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 Ahimbisibwe}{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 : \par \par Ground 1.: \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 The trial judge entered a plea of guil}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4333077\charrsid13768448 ty erroneously. At page 1 the C}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 ourt asked what language the appellant spoke. There was no answer recorded. Even on the 2}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 nd}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 page, it was not specified. \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 After re-interviewing the appellant who had told me in broken Kinyankole that he is a Munyala. Now I know that he is an Alur and he is an Alur, I wish to abandon ground I of the appeal. }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 I had earlier aban}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4333077\charrsid13768448 doned ground two but now I ask C}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 ourt to permit me to argue ground II. \par \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 Court: \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 \par Ground I }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 abandoned}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 . Counsel to argue ground II of the appeal. \par \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 Ahimbisimbwe: \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 The appellant was given a sentence of 15 years which was too harsh. The victim was aged 7 years old }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8876019\charrsid13768448 the appellant }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 was aged 30 years old. He did not waste the }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8876019\charrsid13768448 C}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 ourt\rquote s}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 time. He said he knew what he did and pleaded guilty. He was }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 remorseful}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 and pleaded guilty quickly. Pray you reconsider the sentence and }{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 vary the}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 sentence to 5 years imprisonment. \par \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 Mr. Okwanga: \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 A sentence of 15 years was fair in the circumstances. It is not harsh as the ma}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8876019\charrsid13768448 ximum sentence was death. The C}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 ourt did consider}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid15410896\charrsid13768448 his}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 prayer for leniency which took care of all legitimate mitigation factors. The victim was too young at 7 years. The appell ant was a married man with children. Pray you do not disturb the sentence as no cause has been shown. See authority of }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 Mbora Issa vs Uganda Cr. Appeal No.14/2001.}{ \f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid4333077\charrsid13768448 w}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 hich was similar. 15 years sentence was upheld where the victim was 10 years. Pray you dismiss the appeal.}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 Ahimbisimbwe: \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 Nothing to add. \par \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 JUDGMENT OF THE COURT: \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 We have listened to Ms Lydia Ahimbisimbwe learned counsel for the appellant and Mr. Vincent Okwanga learned counsel for the respondent we have also carefully perused the record of the trial court. We hold the view that there is nothing in this appeal that could justify us to interfere with the sentence passed by the trial court. The High Court considered all the mitigating factors against the fact that this was an offence punisha b le by death. We do think that he properly weighed the ends of justice and properly came to the conclusion that 15 years imprisonment was the sentence appellant deserved. We agree. We uphold the conviction and sentence and the appeal is accordingly dism issed. \par \par Dated at Mbarara this 9}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\super\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 th}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 day of November 2010. \par }\pard \s20\qj \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid4333077 {\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 \par \par \par ..................................................................... \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid8876019\charrsid13768448 Hon. J}{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 ustice A. Twinomujuni \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 JUSTICE OF APPEAL \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 .......................................................................... \par Hon. Justice S. B. K. Kavuma \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 \par \par \par }{\f0\fs24\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 ..................................................................... \par Hon. Justice M. S. Arach Amoko \par }{\b\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 JUSTICE OF APPEAL. \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid5769522\charrsid13768448 \par }{\f0\fs24\ul\lang2057\langfe1033\langnp2057\insrsid6453941\charrsid13768448 \par }}