Army court charges, remands 16 over murder

COURT

The General Court Martial (GCM) has charged and remanded sixteen people to Luzira prisons over murder and doing grievous harm at Opit Army Detach in Gulu district.

The charged are Richard Okech 35, Alfred Odongpiny 19, Geoffrey Komakech 30, Charles Onen 45, Richard Onen 26, Thomas Opiro Opiyo 35, Vincent Ochola Ocen 29, Howard Jomax Openjuru alias Engineer 39, AX 004869 Pte Fred Okidi Opio Layika 36, Patrick Komakech 28 Robert, Okot alias Oluca 28, AX 04870 Pte Charles Omwony Bua 58, Bongomin Tito, Kenneth Otto 37, Sam Ojok Obama 30, and Charles Opio alias Olici 38.

The accused on Tuesday appeared before the court-martial chairman Lt.Gen. Andrew Gutti in Makindye for the plea and denied the charges that contravened section 188,189 and 219 of the Penal Code Act cap 120.

"My Lord Chairman, I want to notify this court that the accused committed these various crimes in Gulu. Their actions have left many in grief, losses, and others in unending pain due to loss of there family members as some were breadwinners to there families, "Mugisha said.

The prosecution alleges that the accused and others still at large on May 27, 2016, at Opit Army Detach, Gulu district, with malice aforethought unlawfully caused the death of RA/098243 Pte Alphonse Odong Ojara and Haggai Okullo.

Mugisha added that they also on June 12, 2016, at Central Police Station Gulu with malice aforethought unlawfully caused the death of ASP Amos Masaba and Cpl Amos Edema.

He further told court that on May 27 and June 12, 2016, at Opit Army Detach and Central Police Station respectively in Gulu district, the accused and others still at large unlawfully did grievous harm to Pte Dickens Obong, D/AIP Jackson Yochira, S/Sgt Vincent Kibuye, Pte Micheal Opoka Kilama, PC Sande Wtimango, and Christine Ally.

The case was adjourned to March 23, 2020.