2 UPDF soldiers to hang for murder
Mar 25, 2007
TWO UPDF officers, Lt. Stephen Misango and Lt. Omar Bongo, are to hang for killing Wanzala, an LC3 defence secretary of Buwalasi sub-county, Sironko district.
By Hillary Nsambu
TWO UPDF officers, Lt. Stephen Misango and Lt. Omar Bongo, are to hang for killing Wanzala, an LC3 defence secretary of Buwalasi sub-county, Sironko district.
The men were first convicted by the Court Martial but they challenged the verdict at the Court Martial’s appeal court. When they lost the appeal, they turned to the Court of Appeal. which instead upheld the death sentence.
A third soldier, Sgt Muhamad Bwambale, charged with the two, was convicted of manslaughter by the General Court Martial and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Justice Galdino Magellan Okello, Stephen George Engwau and Christine Binayiisa Kitumba on Thursday agreed with the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Michael Wamasebu, that the two intentioned to kill Wanzala.
“The decision taken by the Court Martial is appropriate. The deceased was murdered by the appellants, who were supposed to protect him. The sentence of death is, therefore, upheld,†the justices said.
Wamasebu told court that Misango and Bongo killed Wanzala on July 30 1991 for authorising the publication of press reports in The New Vision in which the NRA soldiers at the Sironko detachment were accused of gross misconduct against wananchi (civilians).
Misango was second-in-command of the 43rd Battalion while Bongo was the officer-in-charge of Sironko army detachment.
Prosecution said that Bongo, directed by Bwambale led seven soldiers to Wanzala’s home where they arrested and tortured him.
Misango ordered Wanzala to read aloud the alleged article. Misango then told Bongo to lock up Wanzala and beat him every 30 minutes. He told the soldiers that if Wanzala died, he would be responsible.
TWO UPDF officers, Lt. Stephen Misango and Lt. Omar Bongo, are to hang for killing Wanzala, an LC3 defence secretary of Buwalasi sub-county, Sironko district.
The men were first convicted by the Court Martial but they challenged the verdict at the Court Martial’s appeal court. When they lost the appeal, they turned to the Court of Appeal. which instead upheld the death sentence.
A third soldier, Sgt Muhamad Bwambale, charged with the two, was convicted of manslaughter by the General Court Martial and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment.
Justice Galdino Magellan Okello, Stephen George Engwau and Christine Binayiisa Kitumba on Thursday agreed with the Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Michael Wamasebu, that the two intentioned to kill Wanzala.
“The decision taken by the Court Martial is appropriate. The deceased was murdered by the appellants, who were supposed to protect him. The sentence of death is, therefore, upheld,†the justices said.
Wamasebu told court that Misango and Bongo killed Wanzala on July 30 1991 for authorising the publication of press reports in The New Vision in which the NRA soldiers at the Sironko detachment were accused of gross misconduct against wananchi (civilians).
Misango was second-in-command of the 43rd Battalion while Bongo was the officer-in-charge of Sironko army detachment.
Prosecution said that Bongo, directed by Bwambale led seven soldiers to Wanzala’s home where they arrested and tortured him.
Misango ordered Wanzala to read aloud the alleged article. Misango then told Bongo to lock up Wanzala and beat him every 30 minutes. He told the soldiers that if Wanzala died, he would be responsible.