Prison escapee handed two more years behind bars

_________

When Johnson Kamukama gets tired of staying in a given prison, he simply 'walks away'. The daredevil convicted thief has so far achieved the unenviable feat twice this year; in less than six months.

Kamukama, who was serving a 12-month jail term at Kiburara Prison Farm in Ishongororo, Ibanda North County in Ibanda district for escaping from lawful custody, ran away again on June 17.

The crime contravenes section 109 of the Penal Code Act. 

The double jail escapee will, however, think twice next time he ponders escaping from lawful custody after the Ibanda Grade One Magistrate's Court handed him the maximum sentence for the crime.

Magistrate Esther Murungi sentenced Kamukama to two more years in prison, with "no right of remission" after he pleaded guilty to escaping from lawful custody and asked the court for a lenient jail term.

"You have prayed for lenience claiming that you have reformed, but committed a similar crime like the one whose sentence you are currently serving," the magistrate said, adding that he had become a habitual criminal.

"You have made it a point to escape from prison... So, no more remissions for you. You will serve all your jail terms to completion; the one you were serving before you escaped again and the starting today," explained Murungi after sentencing him on September 6. 

Earlier, prisons personnel intimated that there was an increase in cases of stubborn convicts, requiring harsh and deterrent jail terms.

Repeat offender

Kamukama was first jailed in 2018 for three months at Nyabuhikye Prison for theft. In 2021 he was apprehended again for burglary and theft and was convicted in May 2022, receiving a prison term of 11 months and seven days for burglary and theft. He escaped before completing the sentence. 

The crime got him 12 months behind bars at Kiburara Prison in February, but he escaped again in mid-June. 

He is also currently facing another charge of theft.

The case

According to prosecution and state witnesses, Kamukama was watering flowers with three other inmates at the time of escape. The wardress realised that Kamukama had disappeared when it was too late. She reported the matter to her superiors and the Police.

"Recently, he was arrested by the Police on charges of housebreaking and theft; then brought to court on a production warrant and charged accordingly," prosecution, led by Emmanuel Tian, said.