By Kampala Post Reporter
The UPDF 1st infantry Division Court Martial at Kakiri, has convicted and sentenced seven Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel and a civilian for assaulting civilians, in enforcement of the presidential directives on Covid19.
Those convicted are; Ax 012213, LDU Godfrey Bango, AX 014257 LDU Paul Lumansi, Ax 016445 LDU Boaz Onyango, all of Kampala central battalion and LDUs, AX 014882 Emmanuel Mulenzi, AX 015432 Benson Niyagaba and AX 34137 Grievance Okolongo of Kawempe battalion among others. The accused appeared before a five member court panel chaired by Col Sam Mugyenyi on Tuesday.
Court heard that while in Kampala and Kawempe Divisions, the accused beat up civilians on the 26th and 30th of March 2020. This went against the laws of Uganda under section 119 of the penal code act. All the six accused pleaded guilty and were convicted on their own plea.
Meanwhile defense counsel Mrs Merian Kensime, in her mitigation prayed for a lighter sentence on grounds that the common assault (charge against the accused) was a misdemeanor, were first time offenders, did not waste court's time, were repentant and remorseful, and had families to fend for. However, prosecution submitted that, the actions of the six accused went against the established UPDF code of conduct which portrayed UPDF as a brutal force. He therefore prayed for an appropriate sentence against them. After deliberations, court sentenced the six accused to two months in detention.
The seventh LDU Rashid Mulaalo was charged with two counts of desertion and common assault. He was convicted on the second count and sentenced to six months imprisonment. Court could not hear the first charge of desertion, since it was a capital offence, whose hearing required presence of the seven member quorum.
Court also heard charges against civilian Emmanuel Atuzarirwe who was found wearing a UPDF plain uniform contrary to section 164 of the UPDF act. He was convicted on his own plea and sentenced to two years imprisonment. All the convicts have 14 days to appeal the sentences in the General court martial.
