TELECOM INFRASTRUCTURE VANDAL JAILED FOR 5 YEARS

KAMPALA, 17-07-2026– For vandalising telecommunications infrastructure, Sibaminya Sadick will stay in prison for five years.

The Standards, Utilities and Wildlife Court at Makindye found Sibaminya guilty after evidence showed that on 7 March 2026, he unlawfully entered a telecommunications mast site in Kibaale district, cut and removed critical telecommunications equipment and cables before being apprehended at the scene.

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 sentenced him to one year for criminal trespass, two years for vandalism, and two years for theft, bringing the total sentence to five years’ imprisonment.

Acts of vandalism targeting telecommunications infrastructure disrupt connectivity, increase the cost of network maintenance, and slow down the expansion of communications services to communities across the country. In this case alone, the damaged infrastructure was valued at UGX 23.6 million.

UCC remains committed to protecting Uganda’s communications infrastructure, which is critical to delivering reliable voice, internet, broadcasting, financial, education, healthcare, and emergency communication services.

To that end, UCC continues to work closely with stakeholders, including telecom operators, law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, and local communities to prevent infrastructure vandalism and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable whenever such incidents occur.

UCC urges the public to remain vigilant and report acts of vandalism. Protecting communications infrastructure is a shared responsibility that safeguards the services millions of Ugandans rely on every day.