In a ceremonial dismissal, hundreds of fellow soldiers marched the condemned soldier out of the 4th Division Quarter Guard.
Gulu City’s 4th Division Court Martial found 27-year-old Private Owen Okumu guilty of losing an SMG weapon and 120 rounds of ammunition and sentenced him to 52 years in jail.
In contravention of Chapter 330 of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act, Okumu was convicted of neglecting to preserve war supplies.
“On December 30, 2023, Okumu left his patrol duty with an SMG rifle, serial number 56-48000707, and the ammunition,” prosecutor Captain Augustine Tumwebaze told the court.
According to reports, he went on a drinking spree in Gulu City’s Buganda Pub and he fell asleep. The gun was stolen during this period, and the ammunition has not been found.
Tumwebaze emphasized the possible harm caused by the stolen pistol and ammunition and cited the seriousness of the case to advocate for a severe sentence.
Colonel Innocent Tukashaba, the chairman of the Court Martial, who presided over the trial, called the weapon’s loss “severely aggravated.”
“It is unknown what atrocities this gun may have inflicted. The court has sentenced RA/270603 Private Owen Okumu to 52 years in government jail, regardless of whether this crime was deliberate or not,” he stated.
This punishment coincides with an increase in armed robberies in Gulu City, which often target business owners, especially those who provide mobile money services.
In another case, the same court dishonorably expelled 29-year-old Private Douglas Asio from the army. Asio, who was assigned to the 409 Brigade headquarters in Bondo Barracks, Arua District, was given a two-week leave of absence in January 2023, according to the prosecution, but he did not return.
In October of that year, he was listed as absent without official leave (AWOL).
According to reports, Asio reappeared in June 2024 following an increase in UPDF wages. Colonel Tukashaba reminded soldiers after his sentencing that being a member of the UPDF requires sacrifice and discipline.
In a ceremonial dismissal, hundreds of fellow soldiers marched the condemned soldier out of the 4th Division Quarter Guard.
These incidents highlight the UPDF’s stringent internal disciplinary and accountability policies.