By KT Reporter
The Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court has sentenced 35-year-old Hakim Mugisha to two years in prison for assaulting his cousin, Faridah Namuga, following a dispute over a shop. The court heard that on May 14, 2025, at Qualicel Plaza on Nabugabo Road in Kampala’s Central Division, Mugisha punched Namuga, causing her to fall unconscious and sustain a deep cut on her forehead.
Mugisha was arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ronald Kayizzi on Friday and charged with one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, to which he pleaded guilty. He was immediately convicted on the strength of his plea. During the sentencing, Magistrate Kayizzi considered Mugisha’s plea of guilt and his status as a single father of two young children.
Mugisha had asked for leniency, explaining that the mother of his children suffers from a mental illness and that he is their sole caregiver. “I have two children—one is 13 years old, and the other is just one and a half. Their mother has a mental illness. They have no one else to care for them,” Mugisha told the court during mitigation.
However, Namuga contested Mugisha’s account of the incident, claiming he had come to her shop carrying an unidentified item concealed in a polythene bag. She asked the court to let the law take its course, expressing hope that a custodial sentence would lead to Mugisha’s reformation.
Namuga appeared in court with visible facial injuries. Her forehead was bandaged with medical cotton and plasters. In delivering the sentence, Chief Magistrate Kayizzi emphasized the seriousness of the assault and the need to send a strong message to potential offenders.
“This court cannot overlook the gravity of the injuries caused. A custodial sentence is necessary to deter similar acts of violence,” he said. The prosecution, led by Senior State Attorney Ivan Kyazze, outlined the circumstances under which the crime was committed.
Magistrate Kayizzi informed Mugisha of his right to appeal. However, because the conviction was based on his guilty plea, Mugisha is only eligible to appeal the sentence, not the conviction itself-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
