SFC Soldier Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Over Murder

SFC Soldier Sentenced to Life Imprisonment Over Murder, 40 Years for Aggravated Robbery 

BY BOBSON OPIO

OYAM; Pte Julius Ecee, a 27-year-old soldier attached to the Special Forces Command has been sentenced life imprisonment over murder and another 40 years in jail over aggravated robbery.

Pte Ecee was found guilty by division court martial of special force group of 01 special force command held in Loro town council for three days.

Ecee, attached to the artillery ragement in Waza, Nakaseke District was charged with murder contrary to section 188 and 186 chapter 120 of the penal code act and aggravated robbery contrary to section 286 sub-section 2 of the penal code although he did not plead guilty of the charges against him.

He was however sent to Luzira Government prison after appearing before Lt Col Moses Nabaasa, the chairman of the 01 Divison court Special Forces Group of the Special Forces Command on Wednesday, April 17^th 2024. 

Prosecution led by Lt David Basiima told court that the Ecee on December 26^th, 2023 dressed on the military attire while at Loro Town council entered a hardware shop belonging to one Robert Obote demanding for money.

Basiima told court that Ecee shot three people on his way out of the Hardware after he took sisty five thousand shilling from the counter since the hardware attendant identified as Morris Obongo ran to the next room fearing for his life.

All the victims were rushed to ST John XX111 Hospital Aber for treatment however one Kizito Isaac Okola a 19-year-old resident of Olangit “A village, in Ogwete Sub-county in Otuke District passed on after two days. The survivors are a 25-year-old Innocent Obwol, a boda boda rider, a resident of Adyeda village within Loro Town council and RA 278021 Pte Emmanuel Okello, a UPDF soldier who was simply passing by.

The prosecution told court that the accused escaped from the barracks with a gun loaded with ammunitions unlawfully and committed murder and went ahead and caused robbery, therefore by convicting the accused would frighten other officers from committing the same offences.

However, Lt Hilary Rugyendo, the Defence lawyer asked court to give ecee lenient sentence since it is his first crime committed urging that he can reform and become a good person.

RA 239288 Pte Julius Ecee (the convict) before the Court pleaded not guilty to the offences of count 1(murder) contrary to section 188 and 189 chapter 120 of the penal code Act and count 2(aggravated robbery contrary to section 286 S(c) 2 of the penal code act chapter 120.

In the judgment read by Lt. Col Moses Nabaasa, the court therefore sentenced Pte Ecee to count 1(murder) life imprisonment, count 2(aggravated robbery) 40 years’ imprisonment all at Luzira Government prison and all sentences will run co-currently with effect from Wednesday, April 17^th 2024.

Ecee was told by Lt. Col Moses Nabaasa to appeal within fourteen days if he is not satisfied with the decision of the court.