By Samuel Opio
The General Court Martial (GCM) has sentenced two people to 40 years in prison over charges of murder and aggravated robbery of Shs 435 million from a hardware in Masaka District.
The GCM chaired by Lt Gen Andrew Gutti sent Derrick Jumba and Matia Bukenya Kiiza to the coolers for 40 years upon pleading guilty.
The two accepted that on July 1st, 2018, at Mawogola Street in Masaka District, with malice aforethought shot dead Moses Musinguzi who was working as a security guard at Moses K Hardware shop in Masaka district and robbed his AK 47 with 30 rounds of ammunition.
The convicts also pleaded that they shot dead a one Sharif Kiggundu, a casual labourer who was also working at Moses K hardware and robbed Shs435M which is owned by Moses Kalisa.
Upon their conviction last week, Jumba told court that he was given Shs15 million after executing his duty however his colleagues ran away with the balance.
However, he was later arrested as he was trying to go to purchase silverfish by Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence.
Court heard that Kiiza 30, was given a share of Shs200, 000 as his reward for participating in the murder and robbery.
Delivering the sentence this afternoon, Lt Gen Gutti said that he has considered the fact that the convicts pleaded guilty and are young men who have families.
Gutti also added that the people they shot dead also had families to look at and he could only sentence them to 40 years and three months in jail for each of the counts.
The convicts’ punishment is to run concurrently.
They had earlier been charged with five others who pleaded not guilty to the offenses.
These include Retired CPL Paul Kiwanuka 54, JohnBosco Waligo 43, Stephen Kayemba 31, Julius Tweheyo alias Rutwiigi, Gerevazio Kankanka alias Kojja and others at large.
These are currently on remand until November, 20 when the hearing of their case will commence.
sopio@spyuganda.com
