UGANDA: THREE SOLDIERS SENTENCED TO DEATH

a court martial in Uganda sentenced three soldiers to death by hanging after finding them guilty of murdering two civilians in Kiruhura district. The prosecution told the court that Lance Cpl. David Kizza Mwebaze, Pte. John Vulga and Pte. Richard Wanyama attached to the UPDF Second Division headquarters Makenke in Mbarara, shot Charles Mugarura and David Nayebare of Kanyaryeru sub-county in Kiruhura on March 31. The court, headed by Brig. Geoffrey Taban, heard that the three soldiers had been deployed to Kibega on Mbarara-Masaka road to foil an impending robbery. Taban said the victims were not robbers and were killed at an area different from where the robbery was going to take place. He said although the accused were deployed in the area to stop theft, they took the law into their hands. The convicts have a right to appeal within 14 days. A medical report showed that Nayebare was shot five times in the chest while Mugarura was shot 10 times in the stomach. The court was conducted in an open space at the sub-county headquarters to allow civilian witnesses to testify freely.