UPDF soldier jailed 90 years for killing his commander

The UPDF general headquarters Division Court Martial (DCM) has sentenced soldier to 90 years imprisonment for murder.

The army court that sat at the Marine Brigade Headquarters in Buliisa district sentenced Pte Cephas Rubagumya after being convicted of shooting and killing his commander, Lance Corporal  Bernard Businge while at Mulima detach in Buliisa district , contrary to section 188 & 189 of the Panel Code Act .

The prosecution led by Maj Gerald Bamwitirebye told the army court chaired by Col Edison Muhanguzi that on May,27, 2020, Rubagumya left Mulima detach and went to Hoima town to withdraw his salary and on returning at around 8:40pm he started quarreling with his commander.

He later got his gun from the house and ordered Lance Corporal Businge to sit down but despite pleas by Businge fell on deaf ears and was later shot dead.

Two witnesses including Pte Ochero Joseph and Pte Chebet Flouk who were also deployed at the same Mulima detach told the court that Rubagumya shot their commander 10 times after a heated argument.

While sentencing him, Col Edson Muhanguzi said that the sentence should serve as a warning to all officers and men of UPDF against engaging in such acts.

"This sentence should serve as a warning to all gallant officers and men of the Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces especially Marine Brigade unit never to be engaged in such actions."

The convict was however advised to appeal against the sentence in case he is not satisfied.

The UPDF has on several occasions given severe punishments to its officers involved several offences including murder.

In July, the UPDF Mountain Division Court sitting in Kasese has sentenced Pte. Abraham Lokwap,  a UPDF soldier who shot dead a lay reader last week to 35 years of imprisonment.