9 Ugandan soldiers in Somalia get prison for misconduct

By Halima Athumani

KAMPALA, Uganda (AA) - Nine Uganda People’s Defense Force (UPDF) soldiers serving under the African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) have been sentenced to prison for one to three years for misconduct.

The UPDF Divisional Court Martial hearing in Mogadishu late Monday, with verdicts made public Tuesday, was chaired by Brig. Gen. Dick Olum, who warned, “The UPDF will not tolerate any incident of misconduct among its officers serving in peacekeeping missions.”

While handing out the sentences, Olum stated, “This is a message to the rest of the military personnel whether at home or in any other mission out of the country, that if you commit an offense, you will face the law and face it very harshly.”

This is the first time the UPDF General Court martial has given sentences to its soldiers serving in missions outside the country.

They were found guilty of pursuing personal interest and endangering the UPDF’s operational efficiency, contrary to Section 124 of the UPDF Act. The nine were part of a group of soldiers implicated in a fuel racket that was busted by AMISOM officials in June, leading to a trial which began in late July.

Those convicted include Maj. Sulait Saifu, who was sentenced to three years in prison and dismissed with disgrace from the UPDF; Maj. Kundu Weyaula, who got a one-year sentence and was demoted to captain; and Warrant Officer II Kakooza Mathew, who got 18 months in prison.

Others include Staff Sgt. Abwot Richard, sentenced to 18 months in prison and demoted to sergeant, and Cpl. Sekandi Ronald, was got a two-year prison term and was dismissed with disgrace from the army, and others.

Olum defended the penalties, saying the soldiers had not only damaged the image of the UPDF and AMISOM but had also endangered the lives of others.

The soldiers are to be returned home to serve their sentence at Luzira Maximum prison in Kampala, Uganda. The Ugandan contingent remains the largest in Somalia, with 6,223 troops.