Three UPDF Somali peacekeepers charged

Oct 12, 2020

The charges contravene Section 122 (1) (2) and (g) of the UPDF Act, 2005 and upon conviction, the accused will be liable to suffer death.

UPDF | CRIME 

Three Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) officers under the BGXXVII of AMISOM in Mogadishu, Somalia, have been charged and remanded to the Military Police Quarter Guard at Makindye Barracks in Kampala.

Lt Dan Mauso, 36, an officer of UPDF, deployed as a platoon commander of 31 Battalion in Mogadishu, Somalia was charged with failure to protect war materials.

He was Monday, charged alongside Private Jamal Jiga, 34 and Pte Isaac Okullo, 33, all UPDF officers deployed as riflemen from the same battalion in Mogadishu, Somalia.

Lt. Gen Andrew Gutti, Chairman of the General Court Martial (GCM), at Makindye in Kampala read them the charges which they all denied.

The charges contravene Section 122 (1) (2) and (g) of the UPDF Act, 2005 and upon conviction, the accused will be liable to suffer death.

Prosecution led by Maj. Emmy Ekyaruhanga and Captain Ambrose Baguma informed the court that inquiries were still ongoing, therefore sought an adjournment from the court.

"My Lord Chairman, investigations are still ongoing, we pray that the matter is adjourned to enable us to complete the same," Baguma submitted.

The defence lawyer, Maj. Silus Kamanda Mutungi did not object to the prosecution request, prompting the court to adjourn the case.

Suspects speaking to their lawyer


"Plea of not guilty is entered for all the accused, and this court remands you to the Military Police Quarter Guard until October 19, 2020 for mention of your case," Gutti ruled.

The charge

Prosecution purports that between October 2019 and May 2020 while at FOB Alibao in Mogadishu Somalia, Mauso and Jiga, improperly disposed of 3 rocket-propelled grenades (RPG) bombs, one hundred (100) rounds of Peace Keeping (PK) submachine guns (SMG) and two hundred (200) ammunitions by sale to Sergeant Major Adis Geedi of Somali national.

It is also asserted that on or around January 27, 2020, while at Base Camp Mogadishu, Somalia in areas of OPD-Al-jazeera Road Tower, Okullo lost a support weapon to wit; Peace Keeping machine gun, number M80267676 and 310 rounds of ammunition of the same gun.

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