SOLDIER SENTENCED TO 30 YEARS IN JAIL OVER MURDER

By Aggrey Twesigye
In Mbarara

The 2nd Division military court martial has on Thursday sentenced a UPDF soldier to 30 years in prison over the murder of his two colleagues following a bar brawl on Tarehe sita day (February 06,2023) at Rubiri cell.

Court presided over by the second division court martial chairman, Col. Rodgers Ndikusoka Kitwala, sitting at Mankeke barracks on Thursday sentenced RA258099 Pte Longole Lokwang attached to the 89th Battalion at Mankeke, in Mbarara City to 30 years in prison on the first count of murder and 30 years in prison on the second count of murder.

In a half day hearing Pte Longole pleaded guilty on his own plea.

“Pte Longole Lokwang, you are hereby sentenced to 30 years’ imprisonment on the first count of murder and 30 years on count two of murder. You have a right to appeal your conviction in the next 14 days” col. Kitwala ruled.

Court heard that Pte Longole, on February 6,2023 while in Mbarara City shot two of his colleagues; Pte Francis Onyango and Pte Dowan Luchaph after they developed a misunderstanding while in a bar in Rubiri cell, Mbarara city.

Pte Longole in his defense said he shot at the victims after they provoked him by beating.

He will serve his sentence concurrently at Mbarara Main Government Prison in Mbarara City.