Ugandan Cops Arrest 32 Kenyan Teenagers Carrying Military Guns
Thirty-two teenagers from Kenya who were detained by Ugandan police in the Moroto District for having firearms without proper documentation have been freed by a martial court on Thursday, April 25.
A report from Daily Monitor stated that the teenagers were caught with 28 sub-machine gun rifles and 801 rounds of ammunition, usually meant for military use.
The teenagers, detained after being apprehended in Lokiryaout village, stated they acted in self-defense when their cattle were raided by attackers believed to be Jie warriors from Kotido District.
The teenagers were convicted and sentenced to 20 years each for illegally possessing firearms and ammunition, even though they denied the accusations.
After the appeal, Brigadier General Court Freeman Mugabe from the General Court Martial decided there were inconsistencies in the initial ruling because the defendants were underage, being under 18 years old.
“The trial court considered all the accused as adults whereas medical examination reports indicate that they were below 18 years. The trial court’s sentence is hereby set aside,” he ruled.Â
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“In the premises, this court finds merit in the appeal and finds that a retrial of the appellants will cause them an injustice. This court further finds that considering the one year and thirteen days the appellants spent in lawful custody and the period they spent serving the illegal sentence, there is no need for a retrial.”
In April 2023, the Kenyans stood before the Army Court in the Third Division in Moroto, led by Colonel Bernard Arinaitwe Tuhame. The suspects admitted to the charges of unlawfully possessing firearms and ammunition.
Consequently, they received a 10-year prison sentence on each of the two charges, totaling 20 years for each person.
Colonel Tuhame instructed that the punishment should act as a warning to those who hold illegal guns.
“Many people have lost their lives and property, including the security personnel yet you did not make any effort to surrender the said guns, being aware of the government’s call,” he directed.
Lawyer Soita Jessy appealed the decision, arguing that the sentence was excessively harsh and intended for adults, whereas the suspects were under the age of 18.
The lawyer contended that the court’s ruling was solely reliant on the prosecution’s evidence and failed to take into account the arguments from both sides.
Ugandan Cops Arrest 32 Kenyan Teenagers Carrying Military Guns
