Court in Kanungu District has sentenced the Kanungu FM station manager, Nelson Twinamatsiko to a fine of Shs200, 000 or serve a jail sentence of eight months after he pleaded guilty to charges of assault and occasioning actual bodily harm to his workmate.The Kanungu grade one magistrate, Mr Asanasio Mukobi on Wednesday read his decision after Twinamatsiko pleaded guilty to the offence and asked for a lenient sentence.
Prosecution led by Mr Peter Muhendo told court that on January 26, while at the premises of Kanungu FM located in Kanungu District in western Uganda, Twinamatsiko assaulted his female workmate Ms Anita Tumuramye after she demand for her advert commission from the latter’s office. Although the state prosecution prayed for a deterrent sentence because cases of assault were rampant in the area, court considered his pleas of being a first offender, advanced age and a sole bread winner for his family.“Since the accused person has pleaded guilty to the offence and has not wasted court’s time, he is sentenced to a fine of Shs200,000, in default serve a jail term of eight months,” Kanungu grade one magistrate Mr Mukobi ruled.While giving her opinion after the court ruling, Ms Tumuramye said that she is open for reconciliation.“The station manager asked Ms Tumuramye to be patient until the following day for the settlement of her claim as he was going for a 2-hour radio talk show program. The manager also guided Ms Tumuramye to make her requisition in writing which she did not accept and instead waited at the reception till 10Am when the talk show ended. She grabbed the manager by the collar and injured him on the face demanding for immediate payment of her requisition. A careful examination of the video shows the manager trying to extricate himself from the lady. In the video there is no indication of beating, ” the statement further reads.
Mr Twinamasiko immediately reported the matter at Kanungu police station while Ms Tumuramye opted to report at the same police station the following day.
This Statement is originally published on the Daily Monitor website on 9th February 2023
