news 21 September 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Businessman jailed five years for Shs21 million office theft
A Kampala businessman has been sentenced to five years in prison for breaking into and stealing over Shs21 million worth of property from the offices of VNG International. Two security guards who were also accused have been acquitted. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/national/kampala-businessman-gets-five-years-for-shs21m-office-theft-5603986
A City Hall Court has handed down a five-year prison sentence to businessman Bashir Bakora for his involvement in the theft of property valued at over Shs21 million from the offices of VNG International (U) Ltd. The court found Bakora guilty of office breaking and theft, concluding that the prosecution had established its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
During the night of January 18-19, 2026, while Uganda observed a public holiday, thieves broke into the VNG International offices in Ntinda. The stolen items included three Dell computers, an HP monitor, a Sony audio recorder, two tablets, a wireless mouse, and Shs4.5 million in cash, totaling Shs21.455 million.
The investigation gained traction when a stolen Lenovo tablet was tracked via GPS to Kyanja, leading to Bakora’s arrest. A subsequent search of his residence uncovered more stolen items, including another tablet, a hard drive, and a Sony audio recorder. Photographs of the stolen computers were also found on Bakora’s phone. He later admitted to selling some of the computers to a dealer at Sun City Plaza, claiming he had acquired them from an auction.
However, Senior Principal Grade One Magistrate Nicholas Aisu rejected Bakora’s defense, noting his inconsistent explanations for how he obtained the property. The magistrate stated that Bakora’s shifting accounts indicated a guilty mind and that he intended to permanently deprive VNG International of its belongings.
In contrast, the two security guards accused alongside Bakora, David Moses Ogwang and Tonny Ongin, were acquitted. The court found insufficient evidence to link them to the break-in or to prove they neglected their duty to prevent the felony. The magistrate emphasized that the prosecution failed to present evidence placing the guards at the scene or showing prior knowledge of the planned theft.