Private Herbertson Birivumbuka, a UPDF soldier attached to the Special Forces Command (SFC), has been sentenced to death after confessing to killing a family of five in Mayuge as an act of revenge.
During a hearing before the division court martial of the first Special Forces Group at Buwaya Sub-county Headquarters in Mayuge District, chaired by Lt. Col. Moses Nabasa, Pte. Birivumbuka received additional sentences for each murder. These included 90 years for the second victim, life imprisonment for the third, 54 years for the fourth, and 51 years for the fifth. All victims were found in the home of Isaac Isabirye Mudhasi, 42.
Lt. Col. Nabasa also sentenced the soldier to a total of 95 years for four counts of attempted murder, related to individuals injured during the incident. For the charge of conspiracy to murder, Pte. Birivumbuka received a three-year sentence.
“These offences are of serious nature, and there is a need to deter others from committing the same. However, the court has also considered mitigating factors presented by the defense in determining the sentencing,” said Lt. Col. Nabasa, who noted that four months already served in custody were deducted from the final sentence.
The sentences will run concurrently, meaning Pte. Birivumbuka will serve the longest sentence, which is the death penalty. He will serve his punishment at Luzira Maximum Security Prison and has the right to appeal within 14 days.
In the same case, two civilians, Patrick and Tagaba, were each sentenced to one year and six months at Kirinya Government Prison after being found guilty of conspiracy to murder. Another civilian, Sharifu Modasi, was acquitted and released.
There was celebration in the courtroom as the court pronounced the sentence for the UPDF soldier.
