James Odong And Dennis Ojwee
4 March 2003
Kampala — THREE UPDF soldiers were yesterday executed in Kitgum after the military court martial found them guilty of murder.
Private Richard Wigiri from the 87th battalion was executed at 12:00 noon in Kitgum Matidi township, 14km east of Kitgum town.
Three and half-hours later at 5:35pm, private Kambacho Ssenyonjo from the 29th battalion and private Alfred Okech (23rd battalion) faced the same fate at Lamola parish in Kitgum Matidi for murder.
Col. John Mugume, the 5th division commanding officer who presided over the two military courts, found Wigiri guilty of killing Monica Aciro of Kitgum Matidi on December 15 last year.
Mugume said Ssenyonjo and Okech were found guilty of killing Charles Labeja, Patrick Olum and Peter Ayela on January 4 in Pajimo, about 5km west of Kitgum town.
The district resident commissioner (RDC) Capt. Okot Lapolo and the LC5 chairman Nahaman Ojwee confirmed to the New Vision from Kitgum yesterday that the execution had taken place.
"It is true they were executed in the areas where they committed the offence. The field court martial has clearly shown that nobody in the UPDF is above the law and that the UPDF does not condone any act of criminality," Lapolo said.
"This is the fastest way justice can be done and I hope other institutions like the judiciary will emulate the UPDF's expeditious way of dispensing justice because justice delayed is justice denied," he added.
He said the prompt punishment of the soldiers would serve as a lesson to criminal elements within the UPDF that discipline was of paramount importance in the institution.
Ojwe said, "People here are very happy that justice has been done in accordance with the President's directive, that errant soldiers are tried instantly in the field and if found guilty, are executed in the area where they committed the offence."
Last year two UPDf soldiers were executed in kotido for the murder of Fr. Declan O'tole and his servant.
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