A 48-year-old technician has survived a seven-year jail term after pleading guilty to maliciously damaging 32 air conditioners belonging to the Bank of Uganda.

Christopher Ssebirumbi swiftly admitted guilt without prolonging proceedings at Buganda Road Chief Magistrate’s Court and received an exemplary sentence.

Appearing before Grade One Magistrate Siena Owomugisha on Wednesday, Ssebirumbi disclosed that he had been repairing the central bank elevators since 1997. However, on May 7, while conducting routine repairs, he unintentionally damaged the air conditioners.

Maintaining composure, Ssebirumbi appealed to the court for forgiveness, emphasizing his clean record of never having committed any crime previously.

Nonetheless, State Attorney Lydia Nakato urged the court to impose a deterrent sentence to address the unspecified loss incurred by the Bank of Uganda in rectifying the damaged air conditioners.

In her judgment, Owomugisha acknowledged Ssebirumbi’s lack of criminal intent and deemed the damage to the air conditioners as accidental, given his impeccable 27-year tenure with the central bank.

Consequently, she sentenced Ssebirumbi to a caution, a decision that moved him to tears.