THE High court in Lira has sentenced five former Amuka militiamen to 25 years imprisonment for murder.
Justice Simon Byamukama last week handed out the sentence to Peter Onini, Geoffrey Engur, Alex Okaka, Ronald Adupa and Moses Oyuku for the murder of David Odongo at Otwal internally displaced people’s camp.
“I am convinced and agree with the court assessors who advised me to convict the accused. The state proved beyond reasonable doubt that the five murdered Odongo. I, therefore, find the 25 years sentence appropriate for each of them,” Byamukama ruled.
The judge said the convicts were employed by the Government to protect the people in the camp but they murdered Odongo.
The court heard that Oyuku was involved in a land dispute with Odongo and hired the Amuka militiamen to kill him.
The State prosecutor said the incident occurred on April 26, 2006 at otwal trading centre B.
The accused reportedly hacked Odongo to death with pangas at night. They were represented by Twontoo Obaa and Advocates, who pleaded to the court for mercy from the court.
The state encourages the maximum sentence so that the lesson learned is passed to the public. The maximum sentence for murder is death.
