18-year-old boys appear before army court, charged with aggravated robbery

Two teenagers have been charged and remanded by the General Court Martial over aggravated robbery.
Eighteen-year-olds Farouk Segawa and Ronald Ssenyanzi, both residents of Katakalakide in Mityana were charged alongside Abdallah Jesero, 25, Bashir Pereketya, 20 and Tadeo Mugisha, 26 by the Makindye-based court headed by Gen. Andrew Gutti.

They all pleaded not guilty.

Prosecution alleges that the accused in 2018 stole a TV, a decoder and a smart phone from a one Grace Nabossa in Kalamba Kiganda sub-county, Kassanda district. They were also in the possession of a submachine gun number S/NO.B62-102527 (303).

According to the prosecution, all the accused are subject to military law by virtue of section 119 (1) (h) of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act 2005.

The offence committed by the five accused contravenes sections 285 and 286 (2) of the Penal Code Act Cap 120 and they will be liable to a maximum sentence of death on conviction.

The state prosecutors, Maj. Raphael Mugisha and Cpt. Ambrose Baguma, told court that investigations into the matter were complete and that they had three witnesses ready to proceed.

“My Lord Chairman and the honourable members of this court, investigations in this matter are complete and we pray to arraign three witnesses we have in this matter,” said Mugisha.

The defense counsel, Elizabeth Nyasingwa, did not object to the state submissions, prompting the adjournment of the case.

“This matter is adjourned to September 10, 2019 and all the accused be remanded till then,” Gutti ruled.