The soldiers were disgraced and sent to prison
Nine Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) serving under the African
Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have been disgraced and sent to for
stealing fuel and military supplies in the black market.
The soldiers were found guilty of pursuing personal interest and
endangering operational efficiency of the UPDF, contrary to section 124
of the UPDF Act, TheInsider reports.
The nine were part of a group of soldiers implicated in a fuel racket that was busted by AMISOM officials in June.
The UPDF Divisional Court Martial sitting in Mogadishu, yesterday,
handed sentences ranging from one year to three years after finding the
soldiers, who included both senior and junior ranking officers, guilty
of misconduct and violating the rules and regulations of peacekeeping.
The sentences were read to the soldiers by the Chairman of the
Court Martial, Brig. Gen. Dick Olum, who warned that UPDF will not
tolerate any incident of misconduct among its officers serving in
peacekeeping missions.
“The prosecution has proved all the accusations of pursuing
personal interest and endangering operational efficiency beyond
reasonable doubt. The accused persons are hereby convicted of the
charges against them and this conviction is given under my hand and seal
this 15th day of August 2016. You are convicted as charged,” Gen. Olum told the soldiers.
In addition to imprisonment at Luzira prison, Uganda, three of the soldiers were dismissed with disgrace from the army.
It means that they will leave the army without any benefits, unlike
many of their colleagues who have served the Mission with diligence and
upheld high standards of discipline as required by the Ugandan
government.
Those convicted are: Maj. Sulait, who was sentenced to three years
imprisonment and dismissed with disgrace from the UPDF; Maj. Kundu
Weyaula, one year and demoted to the rank of Captain; Warrant Officer II
Kakooza Mathew, 18 months imprisonment; Staff Sergeant Abwot Richard,
18 months in prison and demoted to Sergeant, and Cpl. Sekandi Ronald was
handed a two-year prison term and also dismissed with disgrace from the
army.
Others are Lance Corporals Kasule Budala and Atugiriire Dennis,
both sentenced to 18 months in prison and demoted to the rank of
Private; Private Tibaijuka Expedito, two years imprisonment and
dismissed with disgrace and Private Mwanja Noah, 18 months in prison.
Prior to the sentencing, the Judge Advocate, Maj. Harry Lully
Lulecera, informed the court that the charges were within the ambit of
the UPDF Act, adding that the Court Martial had the powers to sentence
the accused soldiers. However, the Defence counsel Lt. Lilian Tugume,
pleaded for a lighter sentence on the grounds that all the nine were
first time offenders and had shown remorse.
Gen. Olum defended the penalties, saying the soldiers had not only
damaged the image of the UPDF and AMISOM but had also endangered the
lives of others.
“The sentence that military courts give out to soldiers who
have committed a crime is a deterrent sentence. It is a sentence that
sends out a message to the rest of military personnel whether back at
home or in any other mission out of the country. It is a message that
goes out to soldiers and officers of the UPDF that if you commit an
offence, you will face the law and face it very harshly,” Gen. Olum said.
Both Major Saifu and Weyaula were stripped of their ranks and
together with the rest of the convicts, will stay in custody until they
return to Uganda to begin serving jail terms.
The nine are part of 18 soldiers who were earlier arraigned before
the same court for selling fuel belonging to the Mission. They were
charged after five soldiers were arrested in June, in connection with
the illicit sale of fuel in a scam involving civilians in Mogadishu.
However, out of the 18, two pleaded guilty and were immediately
charged, six were acquitted and one turned into a state witness, leaving
the nine, who had denied any wrongdoing, to face trial.
The Divisional Court Martial is constituted by the UPDF high
command and is charged with the trial of cases of misconduct committed
by soldiers serving in missions out of the country.
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