A Military Court sentenced Robert Herbertson Birivumbuka to death for the murder of five family members in the Mayuge District of Eastern Uganda.

The army court, presided over by Lieutenant Colonel Moses Nabaasa, heard that in June, Birivumbuka in Nawanvubu Village, Buwaaya District, shot and killed Isaac Mudhasi Buyinza and his children Elesi Kafuko, Resty Kantono and Nicholas Musasizi.

Jesca Timujibwa, Viola Kyakueaire, Ham Kitiibwa and Maureen were also injured in the conflict and taken to hospital.

Following his conviction, Birivumbuka received multiple sentences: death for the first murder, 90 years in prison for the second, life imprisonment for the third, 54 years in prison for the fourth, and 52 years in prison for the fifth.

He was also sentenced to 25 years in prison on counts six, seven and eight, 20 years on counts nine and three years on the conspiracy charges, all of which will be served at Luzira Maximum Prison.

Birivumbuka’s father, Patrick Tagabam, one of the other inmates, was sentenced to one year in prison, while Med Mumbya was sentenced to six months in Kirinya Prison. Sheriff Mudhasi Bosco was acquitted due to lack of evidence.

Nabasa, who handed down the sentence, said officers of Birivumbuka’s caliber were trained to protect life and that it was against the law for them to turn the barrels of their guns to kill others.

On Wednesday, Birivumbuka asked the court to pardon him, claiming he was depressed. This came after he pleaded guilty to nine counts of murder and attempted murder.

On Tuesday, Entebbe Chief Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis told the court-martial that Birivumbuka had made an extrajudicial confession, confessing to the murder of his uncle Isaac Mudhasi.

A 45-year-old soldier from the Elite Special Forces Command (SFC) is said to be on the run after allegedly killing three civilians and seriously wounding another three in Agago District in northern Uganda.

Pte Bony Ameny (45), a resident of Ocini Tetulu village, Kamdini District, Oyam District, and assigned to the Pakor Dungu detachment in Ameny, Parabongo district, Agago District, opened fire on civilians in Ngora East village, Paimol District. The district was about 15 kilometers outside the deployment area, police said in a statement on Oct. 21.
Local leaders stated that the names of the dead were 16-year-old Florence Ajalo, 52-year-old Akidi Santina and her 19-year-old daughter Sunday Apio.