COURT MARTIAL, MAKINDYE: The Uganda People’s Defence Force-UPDF has sentenced seven of its soldiers who were involved in the battering of journalists in Kololo on Wednesday afternoon.
Prosecution alleges that the senteced beat up journalists who were covering Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine as he moved to file a petition to the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) over human rights violations in the country.
Bobi Wine was petitioning the commission over abductions, kidnaps and torture of his supporters that has been happening since the January 14th elections.
The officers listed as;- Capt Jessy Odwenyi, Cpl Nimusiima Justine, Pte Wasswa Peter, Pte Tsame Imran, Pte Kisakye Victoria, Pte Opiyo Isaac and L/cpl Zirimenya Kassim appeared before the Court Martial on Thursday for the initial hearing.
Capt Odwenyi was sentenced to 90 days of detention in Makindye military barracks, L/CPL Zirimenya Kassim was also charged with 60 days while Captain Nimusiima Justine was sentenced to severe reprimand and caution while Pte Kisakye Victoria and Pte Opiyo Isaac were sentenced to 62 and 60 days in the military prison respectively.
Journalists who suffered casualities in the incident included Irene Abalo (Daily Monitor), Cliff Wamala (NTV), Timothy Murungi (New Vision) and Josephine Namakumbi (NBS), Shamim Nabakooza (Record TV) among others.
“This is a deterrent measure to other members of the force not to engage in acts prejudicial to the good order and discipline of UPDF,” UPDF Spokesperson Brig Gen Flavia Byekwaso said.
Earlier today, the Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Gen David Muhoozi apologized for the actions of soldiers who beat up journalists and said that UPDF will cater for their medical bills.
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