Aduku Court sentences councillor, fines him Shs500,000 for threatening widow

27 July 2026, 11:23 pm

By Our Editorial

Aduku Grade One Magistrate’s Court in Kwania District has sentenced James Patrick Alele Lubega, the directly elected councillor for Aboko Parish, to two months of community service and fined him Shs500,000 for threatening a 38-year-old widow, an offence that violated her rights.

In April this year, Apio Fatuma, a mother of four and resident of Odeo Corner Village in Aboko Parish, Aduku Sub-county, reported Hon. James Patrick Alele Lubega to court, accusing him of threatening violence against her.

Lubega was subsequently arrested and charged before court.

During a court session presided over by Aduku Grade One Magistrate Smith Ogwal last Tuesday, the court found Lubega guilty and sentenced him to two months of community service, in addition to imposing a fine of Shs500,000 for threatening the widow.

Court heard that on 20 June this year, Lubega allegedly verbally abused Fatuma and threatened to harm her over unclear reasons.

The prosecution told court that Lubega had been sending threatening messages to Fatuma after she attempted to intervene in a dispute between him and his wife.

Lubega pleaded guilty to the charges. He was ordered to carry out his two-month community service at Aduku Health Centre IV.

In a phone interview with our reporter on Monday, Fatuma said she was not satisfied with the court ruling, claiming that Lubega had threatened her for a long time.

However, she urged Lubega to use the court sentence as an opportunity to reflect on his actions and change his behaviour from what she described as primitive ways to more acceptable conduct.

When contacted for a comment on the matter, Lubega declined to respond over the phone and asked our reporter to meet him in person instead.

Thomas Opio Okene, a pastor at Amuli Baptist Church in Kwania District and a human rights defender, condemned the abuse and threats directed at the widow.

He called on local leaders to lead by example by respecting and upholding human rights in their communities.