Western Regional News: Two Jailed for 30 years over Murder of 70-year-Old Woman

By: Shivan Nayebare

Two individuals have been sentenced to 30 years in prison at Ndorwa Government Prison by the Kabale High Court for the murder of a 70-year-old woman in Kisoro district. 

Fausta Mukankusi, 41, and Innocent Niyonzima, 26, a driver, were found guilty by Justice Samuel Emokor of orchestrating and carrying out the murder of Florence Bashimiki, a resident of Nyaruyaga village.

The crime stemmed from a family land dispute, with Mukankusi, the victim’s daughter, identified as the mastermind. 

Prosecutors, led by Kabale State Attorney Isaac Onyango, presented evidence demonstrating a meticulously planned execution by Mukankusi, who enlisted Niyonzima to commit the crime. Justice Emokor emphasized the near-perfect nature of the plot, thwarted only by the efforts of investigators and prosecutors.

Defense attorney Felix Bakanyebonera of M/S Bakanyebonera & Co. Advocates sought leniency for Mukankusi due to her responsibility for six children. However, Justice Emokor condemned Mukankusi’s disregard for the consequences of her actions and her decision to involve an outsider in a family conflict. Niyonzima was also condemned for his participation in a murder that did not directly concern him.

The sentences handed down by Justice Emokor reflect the seriousness with which Ugandan courts view crimes driven by domestic disputes. The case also highlights the challenges faced by law enforcement in unraveling meticulously planned murders.