By Caroline Kirabo
The soldiers who committed this heinous act are: Cpl. Richard Burton Otto, commandant of the Lagot military detach; Pte. Sunday Mugu; Pte. Martin Henry Omara; Pte. Morris Omara; and Pte. Dennis Ogwang.
The prosecution alleges that on Sunday, December 10, 2023, from Lagot A village in Mucwini Sub County Kitgum district, these soldiers, along with two other civilians, Christopher Ongee, the Mucwini sub-county chairperson, and Simon Obonyo, the GISO Mucwini sub-county, tortured Nelson Omona on claims that he stole a motorcycle.
A video showing the suspect being tortured circulated on social media on Tuesday, leading to the identification and arrest of the seven suspects on Wednesday.
At the public field court martial on Thursday at Lagot Village, Lt Col Musa Kigundu, the chairman of Unit Division Court 505 Brigade, committed the soldiers to the 5th Division court martial and remanded them to Kitgum prison.
The five soldiers will appear for a final court martial in Lagot village, as well as the two civilians, who are detained at the Kitgum central police station and awaiting trial at the Kitgum Magistrate’s
court.
The soldiers denied the charges read before them and were remanded until Friday (today), when they will reappear before the 5th Division Court Martial.
UPDF Spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said in a statement on December 13th that Onem had been arrested by locals, accusing him of theft. Onem was subjected to corporal punishment by flogging at the watch of the LC3-Chairman and GISO.
The UPDF spokesperson condemned the act, saying no one has a right to subject another to corporal punishment.
“The UPDF condemns mob justice, whether by civilians or soldiers. No one has a right to administer such punishment as corporal punishment and any form of torture are unconstitutional in the laws of Uganda,” he said.
Kulayigye said UPDF would continue to ensure observance of the rule of law. However, the UPDF spokesperson didn’t disclose the actual number of soldiers that have been arrested for taking part in the act.