KAMPALA, UGANDA – An alleged telecom mast vandal, who is representing himself in court, injected a moment of levity and astonishment into a tense cross-examination this week when he asked the presiding magistrate to order a key prosecution witness, who had previously saved him from being shot, to buy him lunch. The unusual request punctuated a contentious day of testimony, highlighting the complex and often dramatic nature of criminal proceedings in Uganda.
The Incident and Arrest
The case centers on Quarish Ssegirinya, 30, also known as Yasiin Lubowa, a mechanic accused of vandalizing an American Tower Corporation (ATC) site on the night of May 11, 2025. According to court documents, Lubowa was caught red-handed dismantling a generator inside a telecom mast house on Namakonkome hill in Matuga, just off the Kampala-Bombo Highway.
Stanley Wabuge, 44, a security manager for i-Engineering Ltd., a Ugandan firm contracted by ATC to oversee maintenance and security of its extensive network of telecom masts, testified that he was on a routine night patrol with a team of private security operatives from SWAT and Platinum security companies. These patrols are a direct response to years of rampant vandalism targeting ATC’s critical infrastructure, which enables telephone calls and other essential services for telecom companies.
Wabuge told the court that his team stumbled upon Lubowa in the act. The situation quickly escalated when one of the armed security guards, frustrated by the persistent theft of valuable equipment and heavy metallic steel parts sold as scrap, cocked his gun and insisted on shooting the vandal on the spot.
It was Wabuge who intervened, pleading with his team to spare Lubowa’s life. Lubowa, in turn, cried out for mercy, repeatedly saying, “Afande Tokuba” — a Luganda plea meaning “please don’t kill me.” He was subsequently apprehended and later surrendered to Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officers at Matuga Police Station on the morning of May 12, 2025.
A Vandal’s Unconventional Defense
Lubowa, who completed a jail sentence in May 2024 for a similar vandalism offense committed in 2021, chose to represent himself. His familiarity with Uganda’s criminal justice system, albeit from the accused’s perspective, appears to have emboldened him. Unlike capital offenses where the state is obligated to provide legal counsel for indigent defendants, Lubowa’s crime does not fall into this category, leaving him to navigate the legal complexities alone. He reportedly believes his past exposure equips him to handle his own defense, despite having no formal legal training.
This self-representation led to a highly charged cross-examination of Wabuge this week before Magistrate Gladys Kamasanyu at the Standards, Utilities & Wildlife Magistrates Court in Makindye. Lubowa’s questions were described by observers as “provocative and angering,” aimed at undermining Wabuge’s credibility as a key prosecution witness.
Heated Exchanges and Regret
Wabuge, visibly frustrated by Lubowa’s demeanor and accusations, expressed profound regret for his earlier act of mercy. He protested to the magistrate, questioning why someone he caught “red-handed stealing his employer’s equipment” and even saved from being shot, was permitted to “insult him so much in front of media cameras, in court.”
“Your Worship I regret saving this man that night,” Wabuge stated, explaining that some of his colleagues had considered shooting Lubowa in the hope they could get away with it given the late hour. He further confronted Lubowa directly, saying, “Let me repeat that you man, I regret why I saved you because I’m very sure you are still alive and able to insult me before all these people because I saved you.”
At one point, Lubowa boldly branded Wabuge a “useless liar” who was in court to “tell falsehoods.” Wabuge, clearly unaccustomed to the rigors of cross-examination and not a lawyer himself, admitted to engaging in a shouting match with the accused. The courtroom erupted in laughter when Lubowa, questioning how he could fight while tied with ropes, was met with Wabuge’s retort: “Yes, you terrible thief, you are capable of doing that because you are a giant man.”
Lubowa’s aggressive questioning also challenged the prosecution’s evidence, specifically the type of generator he was accused of dismantling. Claiming to be a mechanic with “a lot of understanding” in that area, Lubowa argued that the exhibits presented did not match the described 30KVA generator, suggesting fabricated evidence. He even demanded to cross-examine the state prosecutor.
The Wider Impact of Vandalism
Beyond the courtroom drama, the case underscores a severe problem for Uganda’s telecommunications infrastructure and economy. According to Dr. Abdul Salaam Waisswa, head of Legal Affairs at the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), which prosecutes such cases, vandalism negatively impacts everyone and diminishes Uganda’s competitiveness as an investment destination.
Waisswa explained that while ATC suffers direct financial losses from replacing vandalized equipment, its clients – the telecom companies – face reputational damage and lost business due to unreliable and disrupted network services. Damaged masts lead to poor call quality and internet access, impacting individuals and businesses alike. He urged all Ugandans to recognize vandalism as a universal problem and become vigilant in reporting such crimes.
Wabuge, for his part, remains convinced of Lubowa’s guilt, telling the court he was “100% sure” the accused was the man he arrested. He believes Lubowa’s incarceration explains the recent decline in vandalism cases targeting ATC masts, suggesting that the “squad leader Lubowa’s incarceration and inability to roam around freely explains why the vandalism squads are now in disarray.”
A Meal Request and an Unwavering Spirit
Lubowa, who has been observed oscillating between signalling a readiness to plead guilty and then changing his mind, reportedly due to advice from fellow inmates and visiting lawyers, faces a maximum jail term of five years if convicted, owing to his status as a repeat offender under the Uganda Communications Act.
Despite the gravity of the charges, Lubowa appears remarkably unfazed. He has been described as taking things “casually” while in the dock. This was epitomized at the close of his cross-examination of Wabuge. Magistrate Kamasanyu, in a jocular tone, suggested that the two men should not hold grudges and perhaps even shake hands.
“No, Your Worship, I don’t want his handshake, just order Mr. Stanley to buy me lunch,” Lubowa responded, causing a new wave of laughter among journalists, lawyers, and other court attendees. “I’m hungry, let him buy for me nice lunch because I’m tired of prison food.”
The case continues to highlight the ongoing battle against infrastructure vandalism in Uganda and the unique characters who often find themselves at the center of such legal battles.
