The High Court in Kiboga has sentenced prison warder Moses Anguyo to death for the murder of four people, including two prison officers, a woman and her one-and-a-half-year-old child.
Anguyo was convicted on four counts of murder arising from the deaths of Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Catherine Hope, Principal Officer (PO1) Akishuri Bright, Ayebare Sarah and her infant son, Niwagaba Salson. The prosecution told the court that on February 23, 2026, Anguyo was on duty at Sentry “A” at Kiboga Government Prison, armed with a submachine gun (SMG), registration number UG POL 565824781-32635. He used the firearm to shoot and kill the four victims.
Anguyo also pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated robbery and one count of threatening violence. The court sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment on each count of aggravated robbery and three years for threatening violence.
The aggravated robbery charges arose from the theft, at gunpoint, of trousers belonging to Mary Nabayiga and an Arsenal jersey belonging to Grace Kamusiime. The threatening violence charge followed allegations that Anguyo threatened to shoot or kill SP Ivan Niwagaba.
In passing sentence, trial judge Lady Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga considered both the aggravating and mitigating circumstances presented before the court.
Among the aggravating factors was the fact that Anguyo killed four people, including two public servants who were on duty and a one-and-a-half-year-old child. The court also considered the use of a firearm and the allegation that the victims were targeted based on their tribal identity.
Justice Kajuga further cited the breach of trust involved in a trained prison officer, who had been entrusted with a firearm, using it to commit serious crimes. The judge noted the devastating impact of the killings on the victims’ families, including the fact that six children were left orphaned. She also observed that the country lost productive citizens, including Ayebare, an architect.
The court found that the aggravating circumstances far outweighed the mitigating factors and consequently imposed the death sentence for the four murder counts.
The mitigating circumstances included the absence of evidence of premeditation, Anguyo’s guilty plea, photographs of him from his youth presented to the court, his expression of remorse, his willingness to compensate the victims of the aggravated robbery and his apology to the public.
The court also ordered Anguyo to compensate the victims 35,000 for the stolen trousers and 25,000 Shillings for the Arsenal jersey.
In a statement, Jacquelyn Okui, the Public Relations Officer for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said the sentence was a solemn reminder of the seriousness with which the law treats the taking of human life and violent criminal conduct.
“The outcome of this case affirms the Office of the DPP’s commitment, as well as the commitments of its criminal justice counterparts, the police and the Judiciary, to ensuring accountability for grave crimes and delivering justice to victims and their families,” Okui said. The prosecution was led by Dr Daisy Nabasitu, Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, and Stephen Ariong, Senior State Attorney-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
