Makindye based General Court Martial (GCM) has convicted and sentenced four youth to two years’ imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to possessing military stores.

The convicts are Kasim Lugobe, 26, Shafik Senyondo, 21, Joseph Lukyamuzi, 18, and Sulaiman Sempagala, 20. 

Lukyamuzi and Sempagala sell roasted meat and chapatti whereas Senyondo is a taxi driver and Lugobe is a boda boda rider.

GCM Chairman Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti sentenced the convicts to two years’ imprisonment after they pleaded guilty to the charge.

“Having pleaded guilty to the charge, this court convicts you on your own plea and you are hereby sentenced to two years’ imprisonment,” Gutti ruled.

Gutti stressed that he had considered the time the convicts had spent on remand. He said they will serve more six months.

“Considering the one year and six months you have spent on remand, you will now serve more six months, beginning today,” Gutti ordered, urging the convicts to appeal the sentence within 14 days if they are not satisfied with court ruling.

The convicts were battling charges of unlawful possession of military stores contrary to section 160 (2) (C) of the UPDF Act, 2005, an offence that attracts a maximum life imprisonment sentence.

Charge

Prosecution led by Maj Samuel Masereje and Capt Ambroz Guma said that the convicts and others still at large on or around August 24, 2019, while at Busega in Kampala district were found in unlawful possession of military stores to wit; military uniforms, clothing that is ordinarily a monopoly of the Defence Forces.

“The convicts and others still at large were found with two pairs of camouflage Army uniforms and one pair of plain green Army uniform at Busega in Kampala district,” Guma told court.

However, the convicts’ lawyer, Maj Silas Kamanda Mutungi entreated court to consider the age of the latter and the time spent on remand and give a lenient sentence.

They were all jailed to Kitalya Government Prison to serve their sentence.