Court has sentenced Sibaminya Sadick to five years in prison for vandalising telecommunications infrastructure in Kibaale District, causing damage worth Shs23.6 million.
The Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court at Makindye convicted Sibaminya after finding him guilty of unlawfully entering a telecommunications mast site on 7 March 2026, where he cut and removed critical equipment and cables before he was arrested.
Sibaminya was convicted for vandalism under Section 83(1)(b) of the Uganda Communications Act 2013, as well as theft and criminal trespass under the Penal Code Act. The court handed him one year for criminal trespass, two years for vandalism, and two years for theft, bringing his total sentence to five years behind bars.
The case involved the destruction of telecom equipment valued at Shs23.6 million, which authorities said affected infrastructure that supports essential communication services.
The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) said vandalism of telecommunications infrastructure disrupts connectivity, increases repair costs, and slows efforts to expand reliable communication services to communities across Uganda.
UCC reaffirmed its commitment to working with telecom operators, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and local communities to protect communication infrastructure and ensure offenders are held accountable.
The Commission has urged the public to remain alert and report acts of vandalism, noting that protecting telecom infrastructure is a shared responsibility because millions of Ugandans depend on these services for communication, business, education, healthcare, and emergency response.
