Businessman Bashir Juma Bakora, 28, is to spend the next five years in prison for his role in breaking into the offices of VNG International (U) Ltd in Ntinda and stealing property worth Shs21.455 million. Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Nicholas Aisu of the City Hall Magistrates Court in Kampala sentenced Bakora on Monday after convicting him of office breaking and theft on September 17, 2026.
The offences were committed between January 18 and 19, 2026, at the offices of VNG International, a Dutch organisation based in Ntinda, Nakawa Division, Kampala. The prosecution alleged that Bakora and others broke into the offices and stole three Dell all-in-one computers, an HP monitor, a Sony audio recorder, two tablets, a wireless mouse and Shs4.5 million in cash.
The total value of the property listed under the theft charge was Shs21.455 million. The prosecution called seven witnesses, including company employees, police officers and a scene-of-crime officer, to prove the case. The court heard that one of the stolen tablets, a Lenovo, was tracked to an apartment in Kyanja, where Bakora was arrested.
Police later searched Bakora’s residence and recovered another tablet, a hard drive, a sound recorder and other items believed to have been stolen from VNG International. The court also heard that Bakora led police to a shop at Sun City Plaza where some of the stolen computers had allegedly been sold.
In his defence, Bakora denied ever having been to VNG International and claimed that the items had been sold to him by his co-accused, Ogwang David Moses, and another person identified as Samuel. However, Magistrate Aisu found that Bakora had given conflicting accounts about how he came into possession of the property. The court consequently found that the prosecution had proved beyond reasonable doubt that Bakora participated in the unlawful entry and theft.
Ogwang David Moses and Ongin Tonny, who were jointly charged with Bakora, were acquitted. The two, who had been employed as security guards by SGA Security, faced a separate charge of neglecting to prevent a felony. The court found that the prosecution had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that they had prior knowledge of the planned offence or that they were present at the scene and failed to take reasonable steps to prevent it.
During sentencing, the prosecution asked the court to consider the seriousness of the offences, while Bakora asked the magistrate to reduce the punishment. The court noted that Bakora was a first offender and a family man, but said office breaking and theft were becoming prevalent, particularly in Kampala City, and that there was a need for a deterrent sentence.
The magistrate also observed that Bakora had wasted court time and had not shown remorse throughout the trial. Aisu consequently sentenced him to five years in prison. The magistrate also informed Bakora that he had a right to appeal against both his conviction and sentence within 14 days. Immediately after the sentence was handed down, Bakora asked the magistrate to return his mobile phones.
The magistrate told him that the phones remained court exhibits, particularly following his conviction. Bakora, who was being taken to Luzira Prison to begin his five-year sentence, then asked the court to at least return his SIM cards-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
