The Court Martial sitting in Sembabule on Thursday sentenced a UPDF officer to 50 years in prison over murder and robbery.
Private Paul Sserugo, an army deserter who was attached to the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) marines was part of the gang that terrorised residents in Sembabule, Rakai, Lyantonde, Lwengo, and Masaka districts last year.
He was arrested together with Joseph Byakatonda and Matia Kawadwa before being arraigned before the court-martial.
Court Martial presided over by Col Sam Mugenyi, sitting at Ntete village in Sembabule District, heard that Sserugo and three others killed Sylvia Kemirembe and her casual labourer Raphael Walugembe both residents of Ntete village.
Prosecution told court that the duo in February last year, attacked a grocery shop at Ntete trading center in Nakasenyi Sub County in Sembabule District where they shot Kemirembe and Walugembe dead in the robbery.
Dan Atwiine who was a CID officer attached to Kasijagirwa armored barracks in Masaka district told court that the accused persons also killed Ibrahim Mwanje and Allen Komugisha of Kachera village in Rakai District.
“I have heard the charges and I plead guilty,”Sserugo said on Thursday during a court session that sat at Ntete village in Ssembabule district and attended by locals.
Col Mugyenyi said that since Sserugo and Kawadwa did not waste courts time the punishment of 50 years imprisonment is appropriate. He warned security personnel against taking part in crimes because their primary role is to protect people and their property thus condemning Sserugo’s actions.
Col Mugyenyi also gave the duo’s accomplises a sentence of 60 years imprisonment.
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