A 26 year-old UPDF soldier facing murder charges stunned onlookers in Kaabong town council on Wednesday, when he went on his knees begging the Court Martial to forgive him.
Private George Arumai attached to 49th battalion, spent over 30 minutes crying forcing court to adjourn briefly.
Arumai was appearing before the court martial in Kaabong town council, Kaabong district.
It’s alleged that the accused killed Joseph Anguria accidentally as he tried to shoot his girl friend Patricia Lazea. Lazea, a waitress in one of the restaurants in Kaabong town council, is said to have got an ATM card from Arumai after which she withdrew all the money on his account.
Later, when Arumai asked her she denied having withdrawn any money. He reportedly ran and picked his gun to kill her at the place of work.
When he was brought to an open-air court session on Wednesday, Arumai knelt down crying and pleading with the relatives of the deceased to forgive him. He told court that he did not intend to kill Anguria.
But the prosecution led by Capt. Musa Jjuuko said the accused had avenues to seek redress or report to the police or the local leaders. Jjuuko said that the accused’s problems would have been solved through proper channels. He added that the gun was given to him to protect the lives of the people but he used it to recover a bad debt.
//Cue in: “It was an act….
Cue in…. hunting using our guns.”//
Jjuuko said allowing the court proceed with a lenient sentence, the soldiers will hunt for everybody. He prayed that court gives the accused a deterrent sentence so that other men and officers can learn lessons.
Arumai was sentenced to serve 35 years in jail. While passing the sentence, Lt. Col. Christopher Mbazaki, the 5th Division Court Martial chairperson, said the action taken by the accused was against the UPDF conduct. He said to stop soldiers from taking the law into their hands a deterrent sentence should be given to the accused.
In his ruling, Lt. Col. Mbazaki said the UPDF is committed to disassociating itself from the men and officers who abuse the rights of the citizens.
//Cue in: “The pinnacle of the UPDF….
Cue out:…court adjourned.”//
Earlier on Tuesday, the military court sentenced Private Alonsio Emudong to suffer death by hanging for allegedly shooting dead Saidi Ahmed, a businessman in Kaabong town council.
Ahmed was shot dead on February 16th 2012 after a disagreement over a phone the soldier had brought for charging.
According to the army records, at least 50 soldiers of different ranks have been convicted for various crimes across Karamoja in the last two and half years.
The 5th Division spokesperson Ceaser Olweny says the UPDF values the people and if a soldier abuses people’s rights then he is an enemy. He adds the court gave the best sentences to the lawless soldiers saying this could act as deterrent measure.
