Kampala — Two highway robbers, including a UPDF soldier, were on Friday sentenced to death. Prior to their arrest, the convicts had mounted an illegal roadblock, from where they had been stealing valuables from victims.

The Police were tipped off and the two were arrested after a gun battle. An AK-47 and ammunition were recovered during the security operation.

Tororo High Court convicted Mubarak Ofiti, formerly attached to the UPDF in Pader and Siraj Njola on the strength of the evidence against them.

State attorney Annette Ddungu, who led the prosecution, said the fake roadblock was mounted on the night of February 15, 2006, at Tiira village in Busitema on the Tororo-Bugiri highway, Busia district.

"They would assault motorists and passengers before ordering them to surrender valuables in their possession," she said.

A witness said during the robbery, the accused clobbered victims with big sticks, as they demanded for money.

All the witnesses who turned up for the identification parade at Busia Central Police Station positively identify the accused.