Kiboga — The High Court in Kiboga has sentenced former prison warder Anguyo Moses to death for killing four people, including a toddler and two prison officers, during a shooting spree at Kiboga Government Prison.
Justice Jane Okuo Kajuga handed down the sentence after Anguyo pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted.
The court found that the circumstances of the offences were sufficiently grave to warrant the death penalty, despite the convict’s plea for leniency.
Justice Kajuga considered both aggravating and mitigating circumstances before passing sentence.
The aggravating circumstances included the killing of four people, among them two public servants who were performing their duties and a one-and-a-half-year-old child.
The court also considered the use of an AK-47-type firearm and the allegation that victims were selected because of their tribal identity.
Justice Kajuga said the offence was particularly serious because Anguyo was a trained prison officer who had been entrusted with a firearm in the course of his duties.
The killings, the court noted, had left six children without parents and caused lasting suffering to the victims’ families.
Among those killed was Ayebare, an architect whom the court described as a productive citizen whose life had been cut short.
What happened at the prison
Prosecution, led by Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Dr Daisy Nabasitu and Senior State Attorney Stephen Arion, told court that the incident happened on February 23, 2026.
Anguyo was on duty at Sentry A at Kiboga Government Prison and was armed with an SMG rifle, identified as No. UG POL 565824781-32635.
According to the prosecution, trouble started when SP Niwagaba Ivan and ASP Catherine Hope conducted a supervisory inspection and found Anguyo using a mobile phone while on duty.
He was allegedly ordered to hand over the firearm after being found in breach of prison regulations.
Instead, prosecution said, Anguyo became violent, cocked the gun and pointed it at SP Niwagaba.
The firearm reportedly malfunctioned at first, but Anguyo allegedly re-cocked it and fired at the officer, who escaped unharmed.
The shooting then spread beyond the immediate confrontation.
Sarah Ayebare and her infant son, Salson Niwagaba, were allegedly shot while inside a vehicle in the prison compound.
ASP Hope Catherine was also allegedly shot while in a toilet at the District Health Officer’s premises.
Principal Officer Bright Akishuri reportedly rushed towards the scene after hearing gunshots, believing that prisoners were escaping. He was allegedly shot dead by Anguyo.
Robbery and escape
After the shootings, Anguyo allegedly fled Kiboga Government Prison while armed and headed to Saza Trading Centre.
There, prosecution said, he committed two aggravated robberies.
He allegedly stole a pair of black jeans from Katusiime Grace and an Arsenal jersey from Nabayiga Mary.
The court heard that he later removed his prison uniform and abandoned the firearm in a bush in Kibiga Sub-County.
He then travelled to Arua before crossing into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Anguyo was eventually arrested in Aru during a joint Uganda-DRC operation and brought back to Uganda to face the charges.
Guilty plea considered
In mitigation, the defence pointed to Anguyo’s guilty plea, his youth, remorse and willingness to compensate the victims of the robberies.
The court also considered that there was no evidence of premeditation and that Anguyo had apologised to the public.
The court, however, ruled that these factors could not outweigh the seriousness of the offences.
Besides the death sentence for the murders, Anguyo was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment on each of the two aggravated robbery counts and three years for threatening violence.
He was further ordered to compensate the robbery victims with Shs35,000 for the stolen trousers and Shs25,000 for the Arsenal jersey.
The sentencing brings to an end the trial arising from the February 2026 shooting at Kiboga Government Prison and the subsequent escape into the Democratic Republic of Congo.
