Sipapa robbery case adjourned

_________________________

The High Court in Kampala has adjourned to December 18, 2023, the hearing of a case in which city socialite Charles Olimi also known as Sipapa, and his wife Shamira Rukia Nakiyemba, are battling charges of aggravated robbery. 

The duo is accused of robbing a South Sudanese businessman, Jacob Nul Arok Mayendit, of sh$429,000 (sh1.6b) on August 29, 2022 at his residence in Bunga-Kawuku, Makindye Division in Kampala. 

On Monday, November 20, when the case resumed for hearing before Justice Michael Elubu, Senior State Attorney Edward Muhumuza informed the court that they had not yet fully disclosed to the defence and asked for an adjournment. 

This prompted the judge to adjourn the case to December 18, 2023, for a hearing. 

The judge also appointed two court assessors in the matter. They include Joseph Wasidi and Juliet Kasindwa. 

Assessors can give an opinion regarding whether or not they believe the accused is guilty given the evidence presented. 

Last year, 33-year-old Sipapa and wife Nakiyemba were arraigned before the Makindye Chief Magistrate’s Court on charges of aggravated robbery. 

The duo, however, were not allowed to take a plea on the charges by the magistrate because the offence is capital in nature and only triable by the High Court, which has jurisdiction to handle the matter. 

Under sections 285 and 286 of the Penal Code Act, the offence attracts a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. 

The court heard that on August 18, 2022, the South Sudan national sold his land comprised of plots 48, 49 block 111 Haijokokwe, Juba, measuring 13,000 sq metre at $380,000 (sh1.4b), and the transaction was concluded in Uganda in the same year and he (Mayendit) received the money, which he kept in his bedroom. 

The couple, according to the prosecution, immediately before and after the robbery, used a substance on Arok and his family members, which rendered them unconscious. 

On September 3, 2022, a team of Police investigators tracked the complainants' iPhones, leading them to the residence of the accused persons. 

Subsequently, Police led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Joel Ntabu searched the couple's residence and recovered an iPhone, valued at $3,200 (sh12.2m), and other stolen items, worth over sh50m. 

Other items include a 75-inch Samsung flat-screen television valued at $4000 (sh15.3m), a box containing watches and gold jewelry, and laptops, among others. 

Second file 

In a separate file, Sipapa is accused of stealing sh169m and office breaking. 

Under sections 254, 261, and 297 of the Penal Code Act, the offence of office breaking attracts a maximum sentence of seven years imprisonment while theft elicits a 10-year jail term, upon conviction. 

The prosecution alleges that Sipapa broke into the office of Waada Atsushi and stole his property on February 3, 2019, in Kisugu, Makindye Division in Kampala district. 

According to the prosecution, Sipapa allegedly stole four Canon batteries, 11 camera lenses, five compact flashes, eight computers, five filters, four hard discs, one electric dictionary, a backpack, an electric book, an extension tube, and a laptop bag-, all valued at sh169m. 

All the items reportedly belonged to Atsushi.