By Mulengera ReportersThe Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Chief Magistrate’s Court at Makindye has sentenced two men convicted of vandalizing telecommunications infrastructure and dealing in stolen telecom equipment to six and three years’ imprisonment respectively, in a ruling that marks a victory for the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) in its efforts to combat vandalism of critical communication infrastructure.Trial Magistrate Her Worship Gladys Kamasanyu handed down the sentences on Friday, November 6, 2026, sentencing Disan Ssekalevu, also known as Saava, to six years’ imprisonment on each of two counts of removing and tampering with telecommunications installations and theft.His co-convict, Edrick Miravumba, was sentenced to three years in prison for receiving and retaining stolen property.The court ordered that the period the two men had spent on remand since June 26, 2026, be deducted from their respective sentences. The sentences are to run concurrently, meaning Ssekalevu will serve six years rather than 12 years.In her sentencing remarks, Magistrate Kamasanyu described vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure as an increasing problem in Uganda, warning that the vice causes significant economic losses and disrupts essential services relied upon by the public.She observed that telecommunications infrastructure supports critical sectors, including education, health, finance and emergency response services, adding that vandalising such installations amounts to economic sabotage and poses a national security threat.“Telecommunication towers are critical national infrastructure that must be protected by all of us,” Kamasanyu said, stressing the need for deterrent punishment to curb the vice.The convictions arose from an incident on June 9, 2026, when Ssekalevu and others still at large allegedly removed and stole two Universal Baseband Processing Boards from an American Tower Corporation installation at Ntinda Primary School, tower port number 607597, in Kampala.The equipment was valued at US$19,681 (approximately Shs72 million).Ssekalevu faced two counts: removing and tampering with telecommunications installations contrary to Section 84(1) of the Uganda Communications Act and theft contrary to Sections 237 and 244 of the Penal Code Act.Miravumba was charged with receiving or retaining stolen property contrary to Section 294(1) of the Penal Code Act.The court heard that Miravumba received eight Universal Baseband Processing Boards belonging to MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda, knowing or having reason to believe that the equipment had been unlawfully obtained.The two initially denied the charges when they were first presented before court but later changed their pleas to guilty when the matter came up for hearing and the prosecution was ready to proceed with its witnesses.Court cites Ssekalevu’s previous convictionIn determining Ssekalevu’s punishment, Magistrate Kamasanyu placed considerable weight on his previous conviction for a similar offence involving telecommunications infrastructure.Court records showed that Ssekalevu, then appearing under the name Saava Disan, had been convicted on March 4, 2025, in a case involving the damage and removal of four radio remote unit power cables from an American Tower Corporation mast at Bugembe, Jinja District.He had been fined Shs3 million, with an alternative custodial sentence of three years on one count, and sentenced to nine months’ imprisonment on another count.Kamasanyu noted that Ssekalevu committed the current offences on June 9, 2026, after his previous conviction, observing that he had returned to similar criminal conduct despite the earlier punishment.The magistrate also raised concern over his use of different names in the previous proceedings, saying the conduct pointed to an attempt to conceal his identity.She considered several aggravating factors, including the high value of the stolen equipment, the increasing prevalence of telecommunications vandalism, the offender’s previous conviction and the need to protect the public from repeat offenders.Although the sentencing guidelines provide for a starting point of five years and a maximum of 10 years for theft and related offences, the magistrate settled on six years’ imprisonment for each count.She said a custodial sentence was necessary to punish Ssekalevu, facilitate his rehabilitation, keep him away from society for a period and deter others from engaging in similar offences.Court rejects lenient sentence for telecom equipment buyerFor Miravumba, the magistrate said buyers of vandalised telecommunications equipment play a significant role in sustaining the vice by creating a market for stolen components.She observed that stolen telecommunications equipment is often channelled into scrap-metal businesses and black-market electronic networks, particularly in Kampala.Kamasanyu said those who purchase such equipment encourage vandals because, without buyers, there would be little incentive to steal the components in the first place.She consequently rejected the prosecution’s proposed one-year custodial sentence, finding it insufficient given the circumstances of the case and the fact that Miravumba had received and retained eight processing boards.The magistrate instead sentenced him to three years’ imprisonment, saying the punishment would serve as a warning to people who buy vandalised telecommunications equipment.UCC prosecution pushes for deterrent punishmentThe prosecution was led by Uganda Communications Commission prosecutors Dr Abdul Salam Waiswa, Kevin Bakulumpagi and Nasim Kagawa.During the earlier sentencing proceedings, Kagawa had urged court to impose a maximum of 20 years’ imprisonment on Ssekalevu, proposing 10 years on each of the two counts.He described Ssekalevu as a repeat offender who had returned to vandalising telecommunications installations despite having previously been convicted and punished for similar conduct.The prosecution argued that vandalism of telecom infrastructure goes beyond losses suffered by operators such as American Tower Corporation, MTN Uganda and Airtel Uganda, as it disrupts communication services and inconveniences communities that depend on reliable connectivity.The State also told court that the offences affect government revenue and national development, while exposing communication networks to unnecessary disruptions.For Miravumba, the prosecution had proposed one year in prison, arguing that the sentence would be sufficient to facilitate his rehabilitation.The court’s decision to impose three years on Miravumba and six years on Ssekalevu reflects the magistrate’s emphasis on both the theft of telecommunications equipment and the role played by buyers in sustaining the illegal trade.The magistrate also declined to make an order regarding the blue Toyota RAV4, registration number UAQ 689M, which had been impounded during investigations.She observed that the vehicle had not been formally tendered in court as an exhibit and was not reflected on the court record as an exhibit. She therefore found no basis to issue an order regarding its release.The two convicts were informed of their right to appeal.The ruling represents a significant outcome for UCC’s enforcement efforts against the vandalism and illegal trade in telecommunications equipment, reinforcing the need to protect infrastructure that supports Uganda’s communication networks and essential public services. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).