The High Court has sentenced prison warder Moses Anguyo to suffer death after pleading guilty to murdering of four people in Kiboga early this year.
Anguyo on February, 23, 2026 shot dead ASP Catherine Hope, the Deputy OC of Kiboga Government Prison, Bright Akishuri , Sarah Ayebare wife of the OC of Kiboga Government Prison and Salson Niwagaba, a one-and-a-half-year old son of the OC of Kiboga Government Prison.
During the trial, he pleaded guilty during a special high court session after two witnesses had testified.
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On Wednesday, Judge Jane Kajuga Okuo sentenced the rogue prison warder to death.
"Having carefully considered the law, listened to the submissions of all the parties, and paid close attention to the undisputed facts of this case, I hereby sentence the convict to suffer death for the murders of ASP Catherine Hope in Count 1, Akishuri Bright in Count 2, Ayebare Sarah in Count 3 and Niwagaba Salson in Count 4," Judge Okuo said.
The judge reasoned that the conduct of the prison warder was unacceptable and could have led to death of another person, had the firearm not jammed and failed to fire a bullet.
" Perhaps we would have had a fifth victim if this had not happened, and if he had not managed to escape. The murders had a devastating effect on the families of the deceased, as I set out earlier in this ruling. The ensuing depression, deep sense of loss and betrayal, the fate of the six children, all minors under 8, and the dependent relatives who have dropped out of school, lost health care and tuition. Not one, but three families were gravely affected," the judge said.
"The effects are far-reaching and have implications for the quality of output of those closely affected, including SP Niwagaba and Chief Wardress Babirye. This negatively affects work output. There is also a palpable fear of taking on responsibility within the prison service."
The judge said the murder left a devastating effect onto the country as some of its citizens were killed in cold blood.
"The country lost young, able-bodied professionals who would have contributed to its growth as prison officers and in other fields. The late Sarah was said to be an architect and an industrious person. The severe impact of the crime on the families and community is an aggravating factor in this case."
She said whereas Anguyo pleaded guilty, apologised to the deceased's families, court would not be lenient on him.
"I am satisfied that neither the plea of guilt nor the remorse of the convict can mitigate the death sentence. This is a case where the death sentence is deserved as punishment, for deterrence, and for the safety of the community."
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"A sentence of life imprisonment for the four wanton murders does not, in my view, fit the crime. Perhaps if only one life had been lost, I could have considered life imprisonment. I therefore discount it in this case, where 4 people died."
