Rtd soldier charged with unauthorised use of army uniform

TIME TO FACE THE LAW

A retired soldier has been charged with 12 counts, including wearing Army uniform without permission at the General Court Martial sitting in Makindye, a Kampala suburb.

Rtd Capt. James Oculu, 66, formerly attached to the Chieftaincy of Medical Services (CMS) was also charged with forgery, uttering false documents and obtaining goods by false pretense.

He appeared before court presided over by Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti. Gutti read out the charges to the accused and he denied it.

"Do you understand the charges read out to you? Are you guilty or not?" Gutti asked and the accused replied: "I am innocent of all the offences read to me." he said on Monday.

This prompted Gutti to remand the accused to Makindye Military Police barracks until August 14, when he will re-appear in court for mention of his case.

Before the case was adjourned, court martial prosecutor, Maj. Raphael Mugisha, requested court to exclude him from prosecuting Oculu, saying he has ever investigated some of the charges against him. 

However, Gutti told him that the matter will be dealt with by members of the court.

In regard to unauthorised wearing of the Army uniform, prosecution alleges that on May 4, 2018, while at Kawolo Hospital in Buikwe district, Oculu, with intention to deceive, appeared before the Hospital Medical Superintendent in military uniform yet he retired from service.

He was charged with unauthorised wearing of the Army uniform under section 164(c) of the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) Act, 2005.  The offence attracts a maximum sentence of seven year's imprisonment upon conviction.

In regard to forgery, prosecution alleges that Oculu on October 30, 2017, with intent to defraud, forged a stamp of the Chief of Medical Services, UDPF.

It is said that in the same period he allegedly forged document with the signature of Dr James Makumbi, the Chief of Medical Services in the UPDF. He faces the said offence under section 342 and 347 of the Penal Code Act (PCA). It also attracts seven year's imprisonment, upon conviction.

Prosecution further alleges that the accused in November, 2017 at Kawolo Hospital, Oculu knowingly and fraudulently uttered a false demand form for drugs and obtained it.

According to the charge sheet, Oculu on October 31, 2017 at Tororo hospital also fraudulently uttered a false demand form to Medical Superintendent, purported to have been signed and stamped by Dr Makumbi, whereas not.

He is said to have fraudulently done the same at Bududa and Kamuli Hospitals.

It is further said that Oculu on April 23, 2018, fraudulently uttered a false document introducing himself as senior Army officer working with CMS. The document was purported to have been signed and stamped by Brig George Igumba, the UPDF chief personnel and Administration whereas not.