Eight charged over robbery at the Court Martial

Mar 26, 2019

They were charged with aggravated robbery contrary to section 285 and 286, 2 of the Penal Code Act Cap, 120

An army officer and seven civilians were on Tuesday remanded to the military prison in Makindye on charges of robbing passengers of over sh5m, several mobile phones and a laptop valued at sh2m at gunpoint.

Among the charged is Pte No. RA/234461 Bosco Ssenyimba, 25, of the UPDF, formerly attached to the 35th battalion.

He was charged jointly with businessmen, Umar Kakooza alias Kabano, 28, Musa Kasinga alias Kifa Munyanja, 28, Yassin Kajubi, 30, Kassim Uthuman Lubega, 43, a driver, David Kayinga, 45, Yasin Kyambadde alias Dogo, 18, a motorcycle mechanic and Micheal Kasekende alias Mark, 24.

According to the prosecution, the accused are persons subject to military law by virtue of section 119, 1, (g) of the UPDF Act, 2005.

They were charged with aggravated robbery contrary to section 285 and 286, 2 of the Penal Code Act Cap, 120.

Lt Gen Andrew Gutti, the chairman of the General Court Martial (GCM) read them the charges which they all denied.

State prosecutor Lt Col Raphael Mugisha informed the court that all investigations into the matter were complete and that he had some witnesses in court.

The first witness Porito Owesigira, 42, a driver of a minibus plying the Kamwenge-Kyenjonjo-Mubende route, left the court in laughter when he said he was a rich man.

"My Lord, I am a driver and rich. There was darkness on September, 23, when men I could not identify for it was dark, told me to stop my car that had 15 passengers. They put me on gunpoint and ordered all of us to bow down. They took all the belongings we had," Owesigira narrated.

The second witness, Ignatius Baruku, told the court that one of the perpetrators was in the dock dressed in army uniform.

"Ssenyimba, dressed in army uniform in the dock is among those who robbed us," he said.

However, the defence counsels led by Maj. Charles Ssekayita informed the court that the witnesses could not fully recognise and tell who exactly robbed them after the first witness testified that he had never seen any of the accused anywhere.

The prosecution contends that the accused and others still at large on or around September 23, 2018, at around midnight at Kisoro town council in Kyenjojo district, robbed passengers.

They robbed money worth sh5m, several mobile phones and a laptop valued at sh2m.

The prosecution further contends that the accused used firearms; pistol S/No. POL 15-CN 02 321334005 and an SMG S/No. POL UG 1984 AL 439717412 loaded with 30 rounds of ammunition for the robbery.

Mugisha requested the court to adjourn the matter to enable him prepare his four remaining witnesses.

The court was adjourned to April 15.

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