The Kabale Chief Magistrate Court on Tuesday sentenced 43 M23 Combatants to one year in prison for illegal entry into Uganda and six of them to two years over illegal possession of fire arms on Uganda land.
Prosecution led by Batson Baguma, the Kabale State Attorney told court presided over by Moses Samuel Kagoda Ntende that on 22nd February 2017, the accused were intercepted by Ugandan security at Busanza, in Kisoro District after crossing from the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo without lawful travel documents.
They were also found in possession of five Sub Machine Guns and one PK riffle with 160 rounds of ammunition.
38 of them are said to have escaped from Bihanga army barracks while two joined them on the way.
18 of them are at ranks from Captain to Lieutenant and the rest have lower ranks of sergeant and corporal. They were arrested and taken to UPDF 35 battalion in Kisoro for detention.
The suspects initially pleaded not guilty to the charges but later on changed and pleaded guilty to when their lawyer Justus Muhangi of Muhangi and Company Advocates withdrew from the case citing lack of coordination.
Only one of the suspects Pedro Mugaga maintained his not-guilty plea.
During today’ session, the accused asked for a lighter sentence saying they were remorseful, and pleaded to be deported back to their country.
In his ruling, Magistrate Kagoda sentenced the suspects to one year in prison on the count of illegal entry into the country. On the second count of illegal possession of fire arms he sentenced Lt. Bizimana Ngirenta, Lieutenant Faustine Biseruka, 2nd Lieutenant Celestine Mugabo, Warrant officer I Etienne Mugisha, Warrant officer I Eteinne Musengiyuva and Sergeant Mupenzi Kamasi to two years in prison though they are to serve this with the first sentence concurrently.
After their sentence, he ordered, that they all be deported back to DRC.
He also ordered that the six guns that were recovered from the ex-combatants be taken to 2nd Division headquarters in Mbarara
Pedro Mugaaga, who pleaded not guilty, was remanded to Ndorwa government prison till 10th May 2017 when his case will come up for mention.