{UAH} BEHIND THE HASTE 'TRIAL' OF SOLDIERS WHO KILLED THE KASESE REVEREND

BEHIND THE HASTE 'TRIAL' OF SOLDIERS WHO KILLED THE KASESE REVEREND

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CHANGE OF GUARDS - Summary executions of citizens by Museveni's security goons has been and continues to be the norm. During the enforcement of his COVID-19 lockdown alone, they have so far killed nine citizens and maimed hundreds. The latest is of a 65 years old Francis Ogwang who was killed by kicks on the abdomen by the army led LDUs in Kamdini, Oyam District. Three days earlier on June 24, soldiers in Kasese shot dead Reverend Benon Musimenta who was riding on a motorcycle carrying his wife at 7.00 a.m.

As usual, the army was very quick to issue a statement to the effect that the Reverend was killed by a stray bullet as soldiers were pursuing armed robbers. Obviously, if the victim had not been carrying his wife, the army would as usual have said that he either attempted to disarm the killer or he was an armed robber. However, owing to vehement protest by his wife who witnessed the cold blooded murder coupled by widespread public condemnation, the army organised a haste sham trial. Four soldiers were reportedly arrested - Lt. Talent Akampurira, Pte. Abraham Lokoap, Pte. Jackson Nyero and Pte. Joel Otim. They were paraded before the Division Court Martial and charged with the murder of the Reverend. It was initially reported that they had pleaded guilty to the charge but the following day it was reported that only one of them, Pte Abraham Lokoap was convicted and sentenced to 35 years imprisonment while Lt. Akampurira was sentenced to 12 months imprisonment and the other two junior soldiers were acquitted. Prosecution is said to have presented three witnesses including the Doctor who carried out the autopsy and the deceased's wife.

A Lieutenant (Lt) is a Platoon (36 soldiers) Commander. The Platoon is comprised of three Sections (each with 12 soldiers) commanded by three Section Commanders at the rank of Corporal (Cpl). Each of the three Section Commanders is deputized by an End In Command (2i/c) who is at the rank of a Lance Corporal (L/Cpl). The Platoon Commander is assisted by a Platoon Sergeant who is at the rank of a Sergeant (Sgt) and his role is to coordinate Command and administrative functions between the Platoon Commander and the three Section Commanders.

Among the unresolved issues, the following remain unanswered;
1. Since when did a murder investigation and trial in Uganda last only six days?
2. Did the accused four initially plead guilty to the charge and if it was wrong reporting why didn't the army come out to correct it?
3. How could a whole Lt. have led a patrol of only three soldiers who are at the rank of Private? These days, it's the norm for the army, police and LDUs to operate jointly but in this particular incident we see only the army.

Could they have been on a robbery mission?
4. What was the Lt. found guilty and convicted of? The law requires a soldier who is convicted for imprisonment for a minimum of one year to be dismissed from the army after serving the sentence.
5. As a mandatory requirement, were the accused subjected to the mandatory medical examination to establish their mental status?
6. Was the firearm and cartridges subjected to examination by a Fire Arms Expert to provide a report linking it with the autopsy report?
7. Being a capital offence that carries a maximum death sentence, were Court Assessors involved in the trial?
8. Were the accused afforded sufficient legal representation let alone of their choice?
9. Who carried out the investigations?
10. Since this is not a service offence, why were the accused not arraigned before the High Court of Uganda?

The simple answer is that Kasese being what it is, the haste sham trial was designed to tame the growing anger from the general public. The sham trial by the military court provides protection for the image of the army and creates room for the convict to get off the hook once the dust has settled. They do this by deliberately carrying out a sham trial where they coerce the accused to plead guilty and in future the sentence is overturned on appeal by the Country Martial Appeal Court that is permanently headed by the civilian Judge.

Otherwise, the cold blooded murders by security personnel have been on and will continue and the concern should be who is the next victim!!!

INFORMATION IS POWER AND THE PROBLEM OF UGANDA IS MUSEVENISM

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Rehema
Patriot in Kampala,East Africa:Assalamu Alaikum

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