Monica Ahimbisibwe
For Mukula Sam, it has become a case of so near yet so far away as the much sought after justice he seeks continues to elude him.
We are quick to say that justice delayed is not justice denied but the light at the end of Mukula’s tunnel is fast dimming. All hope is fading in his eyes.
On June 8th, 2018 at Christian Life Church, chapati maker Ivan Wanyama and guards Ali Ojulango, Godfrey Mwanda, under the supervision of Pastor Ssenyonga’s chief bodyguard Israel Wasswa, armed with blunt objects, attacked and robbed Sam Mukula of his mobile phone worth 35,000 Shillings and cash amounting to 500,000 shillings. This scuffle left Mukula heavily injured.
The prosecution led by Jonathan Muwaganya contended that Mukula was one of the church members who always congregated at Christian Life Church in Makerere Kavule, and was attacked when he went for evening prayers.
The suspects denied the charges, but the prosecution lined up four witnesses who pinned the suspects.
In addition, Pastor Ssenyonga tried to give Israel Wasswa an alibi saying they were together the evening of the incident, but later changed his statement when witnesses pinned Wasswa at the scene of the crime. Wasswa and his colleagues were convicted and sentenced in June 2022.
Following the decision, Mr Mukula has filed a civil suit against Christian Life Church’s Pastor Ssenyonga, for compensation of what he had been through owing to the incident that happened to his church premises, perpetrated by his employees.
During a court session Tuesday 24 September, 2024 at the civil division court sitting at Twed Towers, Mukula’s case was postponed to March 10,2025 as the judge is away on leave.
Mr Mukula has now seen this case adjourned for 20 months collectively with the latest postponement which is about 5 and a half months. Before this latest postponement, this case has been adjourned for seven months before, and for three months on two different occasions.
The case is being handled by Hon justice Dr Singiza Douglas Karekona who was allocated this file after the first judge resigned it sighting some “unhealthy” issues.
Mukula says he can see through all these delay tactics and frustration so that he can give up on the quest for justice. He has lost a lot of money in trying to keep up with the court proceedings but is sworn to seeing the case through, and will get compensation for the losses he has incurred, and also gain medical relief for the injuries he suffered and the medical bills he has since accrued.
