A 36-year-old man who allegedly attacked the defence forces at Opit Army Detach and Gulu Central Police Station, all in Gulu district, has been charged and remanded. 

Boniface Oketa Otim, a resident of Romelo village, Purongo parish, Purongo sub-county in Nwoya district, appeared before the General Court Martial chaired by Brig. General Freeman Mugabe. 

He was read four counts including offences relating to security, unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition. 

However, Oketa on Tuesday (April 25, 2023) pleaded not guilty to all the charges. 

The charges, respectively contravene Sections 130 (1) (f) of the UPDF Act, 2005 and 3 (1) (a) of the Firearms Act, Cap 299. 

Offences relating to security attract a maximum death penalty whereas unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition induce a 10-year jail term on conviction. 

Charges  

The prosecution alleges that on May 27, 2016, in Gulu district, Oketa and others still at large with intent to prejudice the security of the defence forces, attacked the Opit Detach in Gulu. 

It is also purported that on June 12, 2016, in the same district, the accused attacked Gulu Central Police Station. 

That on June 27, 2016, while in Gulu district, Oketa was found in unlawful possession of a PK submachine gun S/NO. M80-170362 and 120 rounds of live bullets, the said ordinarily being a monopoly of the defence forces. 

Arrested in Sudan 

Asked by the court why they took so long to arraign the accused in court, prosecutors Lt Col Raphael Mugisha and Lt Alex Mukhana said Oketa was on the run in Sudan. 

“My lord chairman and honourable court members, the accused has been on the run since then. He was only arrested in Sudan earlier this month by state security agencies,” Mugisha told the court. 

Lawyer Elizabeth Nyasingwa represented the accused, who was remanded to Kitalya Government Prison until May 23, 2023, when he will return to court for mention of his case.