A 43-year-old Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier who deserted the Defence Forces for the last ten years has been condemned to two years in prison.

The General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye in Kampala, Tuesday, February 13, sentenced RA/171895 Lance Corporal Julius Byamukama having convicted and found him guilty of desertion.

Conferring the sentence to the convict, GCM chairperson Brig. Gen. Robert Freeman Mugabe ruled that the maximum sentence for the committed offence is life imprisonment, that the offence is rampant, and that the convict has a family and dependents.

“Therefore, after deducting a period of three months and twenty-six days spent on remand/lawful custody and further deducting a period of five months for mitigating factors, this court hereby sentences you Byamukama to two years, three months and four days’ imprisonment,” Gen. Mugabe ruled.

He advised the convict to appeal within 14 days if he was not satisfied with the decision of his court.

Brief facts

The brief facts are that L/CPL Byamukama in 2013 while at Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence Headquarters, Mbuya in Kampala district, unlawfully escaped from his unit.

“It was not until September 15, 2023, when he was arrested by security operatives within Kampala capital city, having been suspected to be a deserter,” state prosecutor Private Regina Nanzala told the GCM.

She added, “He was detained and on December 19, 2023, he was arraigned before the GCM on a charge of desertion contrary to Section 146 (1) and (2) b of the UPDF Act, 2005, upon which he pleaded guilty.”

Other prosecutors on the panel were Lt Col Raphael Mugisha, the UPDF Director of Prosecutions, Lt Alex Mukhwana, and Private Anthony Phillip Olupot.

Lawyers Captain Simon Nsubuga Busagwa and Private Priscilla Kakande represented the convict.

Who is Byamukama?

L/CPL Byamukama is a militant of the Regular Forces of UPDF, formerly attached to the Chieftaincy Military Intelligence (CMI) under the Directorate of Counter Terrorism (DCT) and resident of Kitowa village, Nyarweshema Parish in Sheema District.

Under the law, desertion contravenes Sections 146 (1) and (2) (d) of the UPF Act, 2005 and attracts a maximum life imprisonment sentence, upon conviction.