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Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) say seven officers attached to military police have been charged for assaulting journalists yesterday near the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) where Opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi, aka Bobi Wine, went to deliver a petition about a spate of abductions and disappearances of his supporters.
Ministry of Defense and Veterans affairs Deputy Spokesperson, Lt. Col Deo Akiiki identified the suspects as Capt Jessy Odwenyi, Cpl Nimusiima Justine, Pte Wasswa Peter, Pte Tsame Imran, Pte Kisakye Victoria, Pte Opiyo Isaac and L/Cpl Zirimenya Kassim.
“The military police unit disciplinary committee (UDC) the lower court of the court martial, today 18th February, 2021 has convened and deliberated on its officer and militants who misbehaved and assaulted members of the fourth estate at Prince Charles lane in Kololo Kampala,” Lt. Col Akiiki said on Thursday.
Capt Odwenyi was sentenced to 90 days while L/Cpl Zirimenya Kassim was sentenced to 60 days of detention in Makindye military barracks.
Cpl Nimusiima was sentenced to severe reprimand and caution while Pte Kisakye and Pte Opiyo were sentenced to 62 and 60 days in the military prison respectively.
The court reportedly warned the culprits and the entire military police force to be disciplined professional while on any deployment.
The court chairman, Lt Col Gai Mpandwa, who presided over the proceedings said the sentence would act as a deterrent measure to officers and militants while executing their constitutional mandate.
