Mukono High Court Judge Margaret Mutonyi has ordered government to compensate one Ashraf Mugume, with 30 million for illegally jailing him for five years.
Court has learnt that 34 year old Mugume, a resident of Namengo Lugazi Municipality in Buikwe District was falsely accused of participating in the murder of one Alex Nkuzia, a former employee of the Sugar Corporation of Uganda Ltd on May 3rd 2012.
According to Robert Nazami the defense lawyer, Mugume was in prison serving a sentence on charges of theft at the time of the said murder.
Henry Ayebare a police detective who was then working at Lugazi police station is said to have falsely accused Ashraf because of personal grudge he had against him.
Court has condemned Ayebare’s unprofessional action of including Mugume as one of the murder suspects leading to his committal at Luzira prison where he has spent five years on remand.
Delivering her judgment, Justice Mutonyi has decried the incompetence of government staff including the then State Attorney Fatumah Ssandagire who sanctioned the file that was not well investigated.
Court has now freed Mugume unconditionally ordering government to pay him Shs 30 million in compensation for damages and pain suffered.
