
MBARARA: The UPDF Second Division court martial in Mbarara has sentenced a soldier to seven years in prison for shooting dead a colleague during training.
Sgt Abubakari Juma, 42, is said to have shot dead Pte Kiiza Nelson with a PK submachine gun during a shooting range training Kadedeya range ground on November 28, 2017.
“Pronouncing on the court in the sentencing of the convict, the convicted pleaded guilty as a person and this court convicted him on his own plea of guilty. This court listened to the prayers of both counsels of prosecution and defence counsel’s litigation factors before it and does considers them. In the circumstances this court does here by sentence you to a term of seven years imprisonment from the date of arrest,” said Col Mujuni, the Court Martial chairman, during the court hearing at Makenke Barracks last week.
Col Mujuni said the convict has a right to appeal within 14 days from the date of the sentence.
The Second Division army spokesperson, Lt Sunday Geoffrey, said army courts are meant to instill discipline amongst the forces.
There are increasing cases of indiscipline among soldiers. In July 2017, a military court in Sembabule district sentenced a police officer to death for killing a civilian. Canan Nkamuhabwa, attached to the Counter-Terrorism Unit, shot Paul Tumukunde , 31, a son to Mr Fred Karakure, the chairperson of Lugusulu Sub -County following a quarrel at a bar on Thursday. Nkamuhabwa’s co-accused Pte Abel Katsigazi and Cpl Johnson Abasa were each sentenced to 40 years in jail for conspiracy and 15 years for abetting crime respectively.
In 2013, A Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier attached to the first division army headquarters in Kakiri was jointly sentenced with a civilian to 55 years imprisonment for murder and armed robbery. 31 -year-old Private John Loyor was on Thursday evening jointly convicted of murder and robbery together with a civilian, 33-year-old Charles Nabende in a court martial sitting at Bugema Army Barracks in Mbale.