The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Division Court Martial (DCM) for General Headquarters sitting at Marine Brigade Headquarters in Buliisa District has sentenced Pte Cephas Rubagumya to 90 years in prison for shooting and killing his commander, Lance Cpl, Bernard Busiinge.
Prosecution led by Maj Gerald Bamwitirebye told the DCM that RA/241764 Rubagumya killed RA/205293 Busiinge while at Mulima detach in Buliisa district contrary to Section 188 & 189 of the Penal Code Act Chapter 120 of the laws of Uganda.
The DCM that sat from September 16 -18, 2020, heard that on May 27, 2020, Rubagumya left Mulima detach to Hoima town to withdraw his salary and on coming back at around 8:40pm he started quarrelling with his deceased commander, Busiinge.
Chaired by Col Edison Muhanguzi, the DCM heard that later Rubagumya picked up a gun from his house, ordered Busiinge to sit down before he shot and killed him in cold blood with malice aforethought despite the deceased begging for mercy.
Prosecution witnesses RA/240969 Pte Joseph Ochero and RA/239190 Pte Farouk Chebet who were also deployed at Mulima detach told the DCM that Rubagumya rained Busiinge with about 10 bullets shortly after a heated argument.
Reading his verdict, Col Muhanguzi said that the sentence should serve as a warning to all officers and men of the UPDF.
“This sentence should serve as a warning to all gallant officers and men of the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces especially Marine Brigade unit,” he said.
The convict was told to appeal within 14 days if he felt dissatisfied with the court ruling.
