1,500 soldiers charged
Sep 30, 2005
Since 2003, the army has arrested and charged over 1,500 UPDF soldiers who committed various crimes against civilians or fellow soldiers, the 4th division commander, Brig. Nathan Mugisha, has said.
By Chris Ochowun
Since 2003, the army has arrested and charged over 1,500 UPDF soldiers who committed various crimes against civilians or fellow soldiers, the 4th division commander, Brig. Nathan Mugisha, has said.
Mugisha said in 2003, they arrested 546 soldiers, 235 of whom were prosecuted by the division court martial, while others were forwarded to the Police.
Some cases were handled administratively.
He said in 2004, they registered 575 indiscipline cases, for which 340 soldiers were prosecuted by the military courts, while 110 UPDF offenders were handled administratively and 15 transferred to the Police.
Mugisha said since January 2005, 321 crimes had been recorded, for which 104 criminals had been prosecuted and 88 were still being investigated.
“Whenever cases are reported, investigations take place and culprits are brought to book,†Mugisha said during a consultative meeting at GUSCO peace centre, Gulu on Thursday.
He said 70 suspects were being held at the division headquarters on various charges and were undergoing trial by the Unit Disciplinary Committees and the Division Court Martial.
Mugisha said when soldiers jointly committed offences with civilians, the cases were handed over to the Police.
“A distinction needs to be made between soldiers who commit crimes as individuals and crimes which should attract blame on the UPDF as an institution,†he said.
Since 2003, the army has arrested and charged over 1,500 UPDF soldiers who committed various crimes against civilians or fellow soldiers, the 4th division commander, Brig. Nathan Mugisha, has said.
Mugisha said in 2003, they arrested 546 soldiers, 235 of whom were prosecuted by the division court martial, while others were forwarded to the Police.
Some cases were handled administratively.
He said in 2004, they registered 575 indiscipline cases, for which 340 soldiers were prosecuted by the military courts, while 110 UPDF offenders were handled administratively and 15 transferred to the Police.
Mugisha said since January 2005, 321 crimes had been recorded, for which 104 criminals had been prosecuted and 88 were still being investigated.
“Whenever cases are reported, investigations take place and culprits are brought to book,†Mugisha said during a consultative meeting at GUSCO peace centre, Gulu on Thursday.
He said 70 suspects were being held at the division headquarters on various charges and were undergoing trial by the Unit Disciplinary Committees and the Division Court Martial.
Mugisha said when soldiers jointly committed offences with civilians, the cases were handed over to the Police.
“A distinction needs to be made between soldiers who commit crimes as individuals and crimes which should attract blame on the UPDF as an institution,†he said.