An 85-year-old man testified in court on Monday (May 16) in a case involving the murder of four Police officers in December last year (2021).

Police constable Moses Kigongo and corporal Alfred Okech were among the four, whose guns and 60 rounds of ammunition were allegedly stolen before killing them.

This is said to have happened on December 7, 2021, in Ssebobo village in Mityana district.

Police murder suspects in the dock at the General Court Martial on Monday May 16, 2022. (Credit: Douglas Mubiru)

Testifying in the General Court Martial, Joseph Mujumba Kakunguru said he saw two of the jailed 19 suspects running off with a gun after the deadly shooting.

He said the duo, who were in the dock during the session, approached him as he was picking coffee in his garden.

“I was picking coffee at my home in my garden when I heard gunshots. Shortly after the gunshots, two men approached me, paid me money and I gave them my sack, where they kept their gun," said Kakunguru.

"They put my coffee in a polythene bag, wrapped a gun in the sack and then they took off."

Asked by the court to identify whether the people he was talking of were in the dock, Kakunguru only identified Bob Robert Ssenyonga, 25.

“My lord, am now too old with sight problems that I cannot identify the second one, for time has now passed for old me to recall,” said the elderly witness.

Ssenyonga and his co-accused are battling charges of treachery, aggravated robbery and killing of four Police officers.

Corporal Francis Nsubuga and Police constable Paul Ddimba are the other two murdered officers.

The suspects

The other co-accused are;

 - Stuart Lugendo Savio Paul (28) aka Kuffa Teeka

- Julius Mulindwa (32) aka Julio

- Muhammed Mosh Nyanzi Makunbi (31) alias Engineer

- Isa Kizito (22) aka Commander Muto

- Godfrey Agodri (23) aka Walker Ramathan

- Arthur Ndawura (30) aka Ghetto King

- John Masembe (29) aka Nasifu

- Paul Iyamuremye (18)

- Faizo Miti (30)

- Hakim Ssenyonjo (32)

- Sylvester Matovu (21)

- Derrick Kawuma (25)

- Tonny Ssekayombya (24)

- Alex Mogere (20)

- Sam Lwanga Sengonzi (41)

- Tonny Seguya (35)

- Robert Wamala (18)

- Joram Gamwosi (29)

Lt Col Raphael Mugisha and Lt Alex Mukhana led the prosecution team as Maj. Silas Kamanda Mutungi, Elizabeth Nyasingwa and Betty Karugaba represented the accused.

The background

The prosecution team alleges that the accused and others still at large recruited people and attacked security posts for purposes prejudicial to the security of Uganda.

They allegedly did this between November and December 2021 in Wakiso, Mityana and Kiboga districts as agents of UNCC, a force engaging in warlike activities against the Ugandan government.

They are also accused of robbing Police officers Okech and Kigongo of their guns with 60 rounds of ammunition, before killing them on December 7, 2021.

It is also alleged that the accused, with malice, caused the death of officers Nsubuga and Ddimba. This was at Nakasozi Police post in Nakasengere village in Kiboga district on December 16, 2021.

The case was adjourned until next week on Tuesday (May 24) for further hearing.