Matthew Kirabo Wabulembo has been sentenced to 30 years in prison by the Mukono High Court for the murder of his former girlfriend, Desire Mirembe Jemima.
This comes after Kirabo, who was initially convicted in absentia, was apprehended in Kenya in September 2023 and appeared in court for sentencing on November 21,2023.
The State Attorney, Happiness Ainebyona, had sought the death penalty, citing the severity of the case and Kirabo’s conduct during the trial. Ainebyona stated that Kirabo, along with his legal team, had faked COVID-19 tests in 2021 to claim he was sick and had even prepared for a traditional marriage before fleeing the country.
During the sentencing hearing, Kirabo’s new lawyer, Henry Kunya, argued that Kirabo did not flee the country but sought refuge in Kenya. Kunya pleaded for leniency, emphasizing Kirabo’s first-time offender status.
Kirabo himself expressed condolences to the deceased’s family and claimed that he sought refuge due to what he perceived as unfair evidence presented in court. He mentioned the acceptance of a video, taken after alleged torture, as a reason for seeking refuge in another country.
In response to these arguments, Presiding Judge Henry Kaweesa Isabirye sentenced Kirabo to 30 years in prison. The judge considered Kirabo’s first-time offender status and deducted the time spent on remand from the sentence.
The case originated from the alleged murder of Mirembe in Lugazi, Kawolo Buikwe district in July 2015.
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