A Local Defense Unit personnel will definitely spend the rest of his life in prison. On Tuesday UPDF 5th division Court Martial sitting in Oyam district Sentenced to Life Imprisonment a Local defense Unit [LDU] Personnel for act of Murder.
Pt. Jolly Thomas Opoka 22 had this week pleaded guilty for the Murder of Francis Ogwang Munu 65 , a resident of Amati Village, Kamdini Sub-county in Oyam district.
Ogwang died on the 27th June 2020 from injuries he sustained after he was allegedly brutally kicked and beaten by LDUs who were enforcing the Presidential directives on Curfew announced by President Museveni recently
The Court Martial chaired by Col. Paul Omara also sentenced another LDU Personnel, Pt. Felix Okumu a Co-accused was sentenced to 40 years in Prison.
Lance Corporal Geoffrey Ogwang, UPDF officer, and a Co-accuse who was commanding the Patrol was also found guilty and handed 20 years behind bars.
The Court martial said they heard Brsufficient evidenced from witnesses presented before court and therefore the accused will serve their sentence in accordance to the law.
The Army court Martial said they gave a maximum sentenced to the convicts to serve as a deterrent measures against any act of indiscipline in the army against the civilian Population.
The defense spokesperson Brigadier Richard Karemire in an interview confirmed this development saying that discipline will always be the core value of the Uganda People’s defense forces [UPDF].
Brigadier Karemire also added that Justice will always be given to the victims as there is no room for impunity in the forces.
This adds to the list of UPDF and security forces who have been convicted for killing Civilians during implementations of the Covid-19 guidelines
Rights bodies have recently condemned some of these acts calling for Justice for all people who have been killed and brutalized by security forces