A Special Force’s Command (SFC) officer attached to the field artillery regiment in Waza, Nakaseke district has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murder and 40 years for aggravated robbery.
RA /239288 Julius Ecee appeared before the Division Court Martial of 01 Special Forces Group (SFG) of the Special Forces Command (SFC) for trial over allegations of murder contrary to sections 188 & 189, and aggravated robbery 285 & 286 of the Penal Code Act. He will serve his two sentences concurrently starting Wednesday, April 17, 2024, at Luzira government prison.
During a court session held at Loro town council in Oyam district, the court’s chair Lt Moses Nabaasa ruled that there is no contradiction between the two counts: murder and aggravated robbery and that they do not go to the roots of the case. He further explained that the convict committed a serious crime whose sentence should deter others from committing similar offences.
Prosecution led by Lt David Basiima told the court that despite having pleaded not guilty to both crimes, the actions and behaviours of the convict right from the day he escaped with government stores from the barracks to the day he was arrested proved that he was guilty.
“He stole a gun, did not have a permit to move with the gun, moved along distances to the area of Oyam where he committed the crime and he gave back the gun after committing the offences.”
He prayed for a deterrent sentence such as life imprisonment because the actions of the convict had grievously affected the lives of his victims and also asked court to award reparation to the victims.
On the other hand, defense counsel Lt. Hilary Rugyendo prayed for a lenient sentence saying the now convict is a youthful first-time offender who can still be resourceful to the nation.
However, he had earlier asked the court not to find the accused person guilty saying the cardinal principle of criminal law states that an accused person should be convicted on the strength of the case has proved by the prosecution and not the weakness of his defense.
Court found that on December 25, 2023, the convict signed for a weapon SMG 56-6101219 to go for guard duty but instead travelled to Oyam district with the same weapon without authority.
The following day, the convict then used the same gun to rob Shs 65,000 from a hardware shop located in Loro town council, subsequently shooting and injuring three people; 19- year-old Isaac Kizito Okola, 25-year-old Innocent Obwol and Emmanuel Okello, solider attached to Nakasongola airforce base. Okola later died at the hospital where he was admitted for treatment.
