UPDF executes priest killers

By Nathan EtenguTWO UPDF soldiers were last evening executed by firing squad after they were found guilty of killing an Irish priest and two office workers on the Kotido-Moroto Road.Cpl. James Omedio and Pte. Abdallah Muhammad were tied to trees and shot dead near Kotido town.A large gathering from Kotido town witnessed the execution.They told the UPDF third division commander, Col. Sula Ssemakula, that the convicts deserved the punishment since they killed an innocent civilian.The field court martial, presided over by Col. Ssemakula, found the convicts guilty after prosecution witnesses testified that the accused were implicated in the murder.The court martial was composed of the divisional operation and training officer, Lt. Col. John Baptist Mulindwa, Lt. Col. Patrick Kiyingi, Major Innocent Oula, Maj. Emmanuel Kanyesigye, Capt. Awasi Kapel, Capt. Gabriel Wamara, Sgt. John Kasasira and Pte. Hassan Kiiza. The advocate was Capt. Kagoro Asingura.Ssemakula said in the ruling that the court martial had established evidence against the accused.“There is overwhelming evidence and thus you are charged with the murder of the Reverand Father Michael O’toole Declan as per law established. You are hereby convicted and sentenced to suffer death by firing squad,” he said.The soldiers pleaded not guilty but were convicted after the prosecution adduced evidence from witnesses including a church worker who survived the ambush.Declan was killed along with his driver Patrick Longoli and cook Fidel Longole.The priest was attached to the Panyangara Catholic Parish, Kotido. He was ambushed at Kalosarich, three kilometres from the UPDF barracks. Declan had travelled to Kotido to renew his driver’s permit and left the town late in the evening. Omedio and Abdallah Muhammad from the Kalosarich detach, were arrested after the incident.Semakula on Saturday told The New Vision that they were implicated in the incident.He said the UPDF court martial would try them expeditiously and execute them in Kotido town to show the community the army is serious about soldiers who violate the law.