The appellant court of the General Court Martial has upheld the death sentence for a soldier convicted of killing seven people in Gulu in 2006.
On the night of October 16, 2006, Africano Bono- Lino, a soldier deployed to Laguti IDP camp in Pader district went wild and killed his wife Stella Akello, whom he was suspecting of adultery, their child and his father in- law.
He also killed four other people including the alleged rival before he was arrested later.
The division court martial would later convict and sentence Africano, to death for the inhumane act.
However, the convict appealed the sentence saying the court erred, asking to have his punishment overturned.
On Tuesday, the appellant court Makindye upheld the sentence saying that his act was one of the most gruesome by a UPDF soldier who is ordinarily mandated to protect people.
“You acted beastly, extremely and exceptional going on rampage to kill people .This was unbecoming of a UPDF officer,”Lt.Gen .Andrew Guti said while reading his ruling on Tuesday.
LT.Gen.Guti said that evidence adduced showed that Africano had come twice to the house of one Sande whom he suspected of having an affair with his wife in a bid to clearly identify the home before later returning to finish him off.
In his appeal, Africano argued that the lower court had based on wrong evidence since it was at night and difficult for a person to be seen but the court in Makindye ruled that he was the one at the scene of crime after disappearing from his unit and friends saw him moving with a gun and uniform before the fateful incident.
“The witnesses had ample time to see him because he was known to them and earlier there had been a conflict between him and the wife.”
It is said that on the fateful day, Africano dragged his wife and child to Sande’s house but when she refused, she sprayed her with bullets before killing four other people including the couple’s child.
He would later kill two other people in the neighbourhood as he fled the scene of crime into hiding.
The appellant court in Makindye decried the manner in which he carried out the murder that they (court) said was the worst of the worst crimes committed by a military officer.
“It was well planned and meticulously done. You came twice seeking to identify the house for Sande, left and returned. You had time to reconsider your plans but never did it,”Lt.Guti said.
The court also contended that there was no evidence showing her wife Akello involved in an affair with another man as Africano thought but went on to kill him and six other innocent people.
“We dismiss your appeal because it is the worst of the worst murders committed by a military officer.”
