The public is up in arms particularly the media fraternity after Buganda Road Grade One magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu today sentenced former Old Kampala DPC Jorum Mwesigye one year in jail.
Court also fined Mwesigye a paltry shs 1m and compensation of 5 million shillings to Andrew Lwanga, a WBS journalist.
He was found guilty of assaulting lwanga.
Prosecution claimed that Mwesigye has no criminal record however caused body harm to Lwanga.
Sometime back, Mwesigye launched an attack on Lwanga who was on duty filming a protest thus damaging his spinal cord.
The equally lame scribe is supported by clutches while walking.
State prosecutor Patricia Kintho in her submission pointed out that the DPC despite being with no previous criminal record; basing on the serious body harm that he caused to Lwanga deserved a custodial sentence to deter other officers from breaking the laws which they are meant to protect.
The magistrate thus handed out to the convict a Shs 1million fine, which she said was moderate considering that he has already been suspended from Police and hasn’t been earning. On top of this she added Shs 5million that should be paid to the victim Lwanga to meet his medical bills. This is to be paid in 30 days.
Some of the journalists at court however, were dissatisfied with the fine which they said is a drop in the ocean of bills that Lwanga has so far incurred.
The complainant himself was equally disappointed by the sentence and vowed to push the matter further.
