The High Court in Iringa, Tanzania, has sentenced two individuals, Ally Mtinangi and Shabani Mwangoda, to death for the murder of a boda-boda rider, Titus Peramiho. The incident occurred on March 20, 2024, at Matema Street, Makambako District, Njombe Region. The court found them guilty of hitting Peramiho on the head with a metal bar and stealing his motorcycle, which was later recovered in Kilosa, Morogoro Region.
According to the prosecution's evidence, Peramiho was found murdered on March 20, 2024, after going to work the previous night. His motorcycle and Itel mobile phone were stolen. The police launched an operation targeting local killings after a series of incidents, including the murder of telecommunications tower guard Raymond Fuime on May 1, 2024. During the operation, police received intelligence linking Mtinangi to Fuime's death, and he allegedly confessed to multiple murders, including Peramiho's.
Mtinangi and Mwangoda were represented by advocates Raymond Byombalirwa and Jally Mongo, while the Republic was represented by Merito Ukongoji, Elice James, and John Fimbo. The judge, Athman Matuma, stated that the penalty for this offence is singular, hanging until death. He delivered the sentence on Monday, September 21, 2026, after finding both accused persons guilty of the offence of murder.
The prosecution's evidence showed that Mwangoda helped recover Peramiho's phone and motorcycle, which had been sent to Morogoro and kept at Yusuph Ngumila's home. However, both accused denied involvement in the murder, claiming the case was fabricated. Mtinangi testified that he was arrested on May 4, 2024, over a separate case and did not know Mwangoda prior to these proceedings.
Mwangoda claimed he was kidnapped, beaten, and locked in a car boot before being taken to a police station. He stated that police continued to subject him to physical abuse and denied him medical treatment despite requests. He further denied knowing Ngumila, making a confession, or knowing how signatures on court-presented statements were obtained.
Judge Matuma noted that there was no dispute that Peramiho died an unnatural death. He explained that the case relied on circumstantial evidence since there were no eyewitnesses to the killing. The judge rejected one confession statement recorded before a justice of the peace because it failed to follow Chief Justice guidelines.
The judge convicted Mtinangi and Mwangoda, sentencing them to death by hanging, as per section 197 of the Penal Code, which states that a person found guilty of murder is given the death penalty.
Key points
- The High Court in Iringa sentenced two men to death for murdering a boda-boda rider in 2024.
- The incident occurred on March 20, 2024, at Matema Street, Makambako District, Njombe Region.
- The court found them guilty of hitting the rider on the head with a metal bar and stealing his motorcycle.
