Masaka High Court Judge, Victoria Nakintu Katamba has sentenced a 35-year-old man to 25 years in jail after finding him guilty of killing his 80-year-old grandfather.
Gregory Ssempijja, murdered Albert Suli Ssalongo on August 18th 2020 in Kalungu trading center in Kalungu district.
Court heard that that Ssempijja grew up with his grandfather, Ssalongo who gave him 4 acres of land because of the love he had for him. However, Jacob Nahurira the state prosecutor said that instead of using the land, Ssempijja started selling it off, which didn’t go down well with his grandfather.
The deceased was prompted to confront Ssempijja to explain why he was selling off the land, leading to a misunderstanding that resulted in a fight where Ssempijja kicked the old man on the cheats leading to internal injuries that cost his life.
Nahurira told High Court, that Ssempijja betrayed his grandfather that raised him since he was 2 years old when he was abandoned by his parents, asking court to hand him a long custodial sentence to serve as an example to people who betray their relatives and people that help them.
But, Herbert Yawe the defense lawyer told court that his client is a first time offender who has 3 children of school-going age and has to look after since their mother abandoned them. He asked the court to give him a sentence he can serve and return to his family.
Yawe also prayed that court considers the 5years and 1 month his client has spent on remand while handing him a sentence.
However, Justice Nankintu in her judgment concurred with the prosecution, saying it had produced sufficient evidence proving that Ssempijja indeed killed his grandfather. She handed him 25 years in jail but deducted the 5 years and 1 month he has spent on remand.
