Military court tries juveniles

Kotido

The UPDF 3rd Division Court Martial yesterday started the trial of two Karimojong juveniles who allegedly ambushed and shot dead the son of the UPDF former chief of staff, Brig. Nakibus Lakara.

Nicholas Odeke, 25, was allegedly shot dead by the juveniles on July 10 at Kyamukoko on the Kotido- Abim Road. He was going to attend a wedding in Abim District.

The juveniles appeared yesterday before the court chaired by Lt. Col. Eugene Ssebugwawo in Kotido Town Council. The State prosecutor, Lt. Gerald Bamwitirebye, in his first submission of the evidence against the accused, said the postmortem report indicated that Odeke died of lung and heart tissue injuries inflicted by bullets. He added that an SMG rifle and three live ammunitions allegedly used to shoot Odeke were recovered from the juveniles
Lt. Bamwitirebye also presented three witnesses; the LC1 chairman of Oyapua Village, Mr Mateo Locheng, Mr Lokwang Lopusia and Sgt. Nasur Jagwee, who all testified against the accused.

The prosecutor prayed to court that the accused be charged, convicted and sentenced to death. However, the accused pleaded not guilty and they were remanded to Kotido Prison util next week. They were whisked away by prison waders and police under tight security.