An assistant chief has been sentenced to a total of 115 years after a court found him guilty.
The assistant chief, Adre Odato was arraigned and charged with arson in 2016 after at least 10 houses belonging to one family were burnt down.
The incident was found to have been triggered by inflammatory remarks the administrator had publicly made regarding the death of Ceremin Ongamo who died after an illness.
The Busia court heard that Odato blamed the family for the death of Ceremin-something that resulted in the torching of the houses and destruction of property.
Senior Principal Magistrate Patrick Olengo found that sentencing Odato to 115 years was based on the evidence the prosecution and the accused lawyers submitted to the court.
The chief said the incident happened at night at the time he could not visit the scene since the court refused to provide him with security.
The magistrate said the prosecution had proven beyond a reasonable doubt that the administrator contributed to the arson that left more than 32 family members homeless in Okame village, Teso South.