Ibanda Court Sentences to Caution Man for obtaining 15 Million by false pretense

The Chief Magistrates Court in Ibanda has convicted and sentenced Gilbert Tumusiime to a caution on six Counts of obtaining money by false pretence. Tumusiime was convicted after pleading guilty to all charges.

Prosecution led by Joel Kakuru, the Resident State Attorney, told the court that Tumusiime, between the months of November 2025 and January 2026, while working as a loans officer for Tugende Company in Ibanda District, collected over 20 million shillings from different clients but never deposited the money in the company accounts.

Tumusiime was charged with 6 counts of the offence of Obtaining money by false pretense contrary to section 285 of the Penal Code Cap 128.

According to the charge sheet Tumusiime, who had been employed by Tugende Co. Ltd as a loan Officer, started receiving money from various people, including David Musinguzi, from whom on 6th January got 1,500,000 million shillings and also got 900,000 shillings from John Talemwa last year, Tumusiime got another 890,000 shillings on 8th January from Robert Kato on the same date he got 890,000 shillings from Peter Mugerwa, while on 30th November 2025 he got 1.46 shillings from Deogratious Kwashabha.

Kakuru, said that all the money Tumusiime collected was promising the clients that he was going to deposit it to Tugende bank accounts and then in due course he gives them motorcycles. However, he took the money and did not deposit it and did not give them the motorcycles.

He submitted that offences of obtaining money by false pretense were rampant in the district, and the convict misused the authority conferred to him in the company.

He prayed for 3 years sentence on each count and compensation of each complainant in the amounts obtained.

Tumusiime on his submission, told the Court that he had paid all the complainants in the sums demanded and asked for leniency.

He asked for forgiveness noting that he is still a youth and willing to work for his young family.

While sentencing the convict, Magistrate her worship Edith Tushabe said that since the Convict was remorseful, she cautioned him on all counts and that he should never misuse the authority given to him in trust.