The top story from Oyam in April 2024 

Loro | A Special Forces Command (SFC) soldier aged 27 has been sentenced to life in prison for murder.

He was also sentenced to 40 years in prison for aggravated robbery.

The verdicts were rendered following a two-day court session against Private Julius Ecee on Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Ecee was convicted by the division court martial of the 01 Special Force Group, which was held in Loro town council, Oyam district.

Ecee served with the artillery regiment in Waza, Nakaseke district. He was charged with murder under Sections 188 and 186 of Chapter 120 of the Penal Code Act and aggravated robbery under Section 286, Subsection 2 of the Penal Code Act.

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Following the decision by Lt Col Moses Nabaasa, chairman of the 01 Division Court of Special Forces Group, he will serve his sentence in Luzira government prison.

The prosecution, led by Lt David Basiima, told the court that on December 26, 2023, while at Loro Town Council, Ecee entered a hardware shop owned by Robert Obote and demanded money.

Basiima testified in court that Ecee shot three people on his way out of the hardware store after stealing UGX65,000 from the counter, prompting hardware attendant Morris Obongo to flee to the next room in fear for his life.

All victims were rushed to Aber Hospital for treatment. However, Kizito Isaac Okola, a 19-year-old resident of Olangit “A” village, Ogwete sub-county, Otuke district, died after two days.

The survivors are Innocent Obwol, a 25-year-old boda boda rider from Adyeda village in Loro town council, and RA 278021 Private Emmanuel Okello, a UPDF soldier who was simply passing by.

The prosecution told the court that the accused (now convicted) illegally escaped from the barracks with a gun loaded with ammunition, committed murder, and then robbed. Thus, convicting the accused would deter other officers from committing similar crimes.

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However, Lt. Hilary Rugyendo, the defence lawyer, asked the court to grant his client a lenient sentence because it was his first crime. He told the court that his client would reform and become a good person.

Private Julius Ecee pleaded not guilty to counts 1 and 2 (murder and aggravated robbery).

In the judgement read by Lt. Col Moses Nabaasa, the court sentenced Ecee to 40 years in prison on counts 1 and 2 at Luzira government prison, with all sentences to run concurrently beginning Wednesday, April 17, 2024.

Lt. Col Moses Nabaasa told Ecee that if he was not satisfied with the court’s decision, he could appeal within fourteen days.