Four men have been sentenced to spend five years in jail after pleading guilty of possessing items preserved for military forces. The convicts include Bosco Lapat, 56, a peasant farmer and resident of Pokogali village, Okwalo parish Palaro sub-county, Gulu District.
The second convict is Ronald Emma Lubangakene alias Power Finger 23, a businessman and resident of Bulamu zone, Gayaza, Wakiso District. The third convict is Nathan Kagwiso, a teacher and resident of Bulwa village, Kabuusu Parish, Rubaga division, in Kampala District
The fourth convict is Akram Tumwine, 43, a mechanic and resident of Bulenga in Wakiso District. The quartet were charged under section 160 (2) (c) of the UPDF Act 2005 and they pleaded guilty.
Lt Daniel Kagombe, the counsel for the accused informed military court on November 12 this year that the four who had previously pleaded not guilty had changed their minds and decided to plead guilty.
A plea of guilty was entered against each of the accused persons. The military court read to the accused persons the offence particulars and they admitted the facts were true and correct. This made court to convict them on their own pleas.
Lt Anthony Olupot counsel for the state submitted that the accused were first offenders but their offence attracted maximum sentence of life imprisonment. Lt Olupot prayed for a deterrent sentence in mitigation.
Also Capt Simon Nsubuga the counsel for the convicts submitted that there is no known past criminal record against the convicts and also informed court that they had been in custody for one year and one month since October 17, 2023.
Capt Nsubuga added that Lapat 57, Lubangakene 23, Kagweso 40, and Tumwine 45, are family men of whom they are the sole bread winners and prayed for lenient sentence. After listening to both counsels, Brig Gen Freeman Mugabe, the court martial chairman ruled that they should spend five years, 10 months and 27 days in jail.