3 UPDF soldiers charged

By Pascal Kwesiga                                    

Three UPDF soldiers and two civilians have been charged with illegal possession of arms and failure to protect war materials.

Sergeant Emma Oyulu, Cpl. Daniel Mangeni, Lance corporal Emma Mpawula who are attached to the land forces headquarters and Makindye military police were charged with failure to protect war materials and possession of weapons without valid documents authorizing them to hold weapons.  

They were charged along with Robert Pande and Godfrey Namugwaya who are residents in Mbale district. Namugwaya was charged in absentia.

The suspects were also charged with unlawful possession of ammunitions before the General court martial chairman, Brig. Moses Ssentongo in Makindye yesterday.

Prosecution alleges that the suspects were found with a pistol and 11 rounds of ammunitions at Nile Bridge in Jinja district on the night of September 8, 2013.

Pande pleaded guilty to the charges and was convicted on his plea while the three soldiers pleaded not guilty and were remanded until November 13.

On the same day, the state is expected to present the brief facts of the charges against Pande before he can be sentenced.