The UPDF 3rd Division court martial in Moroto district last week convicted and sentenced a total of 36 Karimojong cattle rustlers who were grabbed during the present disarmament program in Karamoja.
The warriors were accused of gun related offences ranging from unlawful possession of firearms, manufacturing of guns, arms trafficking, murder by shooting, and Cattle rustling.
The court, chaired by Lt Col Eugene Ssebugwawo in Moroto barracks resolved that the 36 warriors were guilty of the charges against them and passed a sentence of between two and10 years imprisonment for each of them depending on the offences committed.
UPDF 3rd division spokesperson Capt. Henry Obbo told this paper that among the convicted warriors is one, Bakari Loput, a Karimojong who illegally migrated to Amaguriat in Kenya since 2002 and was involved in commanding Kenyan pokots to steal animals from Uganda.
“On 17th May 2010 his luck ran out when he had come to survey the next area to raid and was sighted by the local people in Kosiroi village in Katikekile sub-county in Moroto.” Capt Obbo said.
He added that the communities alerted the army and he was consequently arrested at a remote village at the Kenya border.
“He then sent for his gun from Kenya, which the UPDF used to charge him for unlawful possession of firearm and was sentenced to 7years in prison”.
Meanwhile another, cross border ammunition trafficker Hasard Makati was sentenced to 3years imprisonment following his arrest on 19th May at Giriki trading center in Amudat while he was transporting 239 Live SMG bullets, wrapped under his clothing.
Another Jie warrior John Lopori from Kotido district was also convicted for possession of a homemade gun locally known as amatida.
Capt Obbo said “Mr. Lopori pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to six years in prison despite the argument by his lawyer Capt Dan Madaba who told the court that his client is an inventor who could in future assist UPDF in the manufacture of bigger guns.”
According to the army, more cases will be heard next week. Most of the remaining cases involve murder by shooting.
“We have 25 cases of murder by shooting, most of which are at advanced stages of handling.” Capt Obbo said.
In a related development the army court martial also convicted and sentenced three UPDF soldiers for failure to protect war equipments.
“Pte Apei Namalia was sentenced to seven years imprisonment and dismissal with disgrace from the armed forces after he pleaded guilty to a charge of failure to protect war material.” Cap Obbo said.
The others are; pte Privates Angayo Oforu and pte Saul Orijab who were both sentenced to six months detention after pleading to the same charge.
Since phase two of disarmament program in Karamoja, the UPDF Court martial has imprisoned a total of 486 Karimojongs for gun related crime.
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