Loss of guns in war zone worries UPDF army

Gulu. The army has decried the rising cases of loss of war weapons among its officers who are hunting Lord’s Resistance Army leader Joseph Kony in Central African Republic (CAR).

This was revealed during the trial of soldiers at the Court Martial at the UPDF 4th Division headquarters in Gulu on Tuesday.

There are more than 15 serving army officers before the army court chaired by Col Olanya Ojara. They are accused of losing weapons, military ware, aggravated robbery and defilement. Among the suspects who appeared before the court is Pte Michael Ayebare, attached to 11th Battalion based in Obbo in CAR.

It is alleged that Pte Ayebare lost his weapon - a PK machine gun with 100 rounds of live ammunition, on January 16.

The State prosecutor, Capt Musa Juuko, alleged that Pte Ayebare left his gun in his house at around 7pm and went to Ayem Trading Centre.

Capt Juuko told court that on returning to the base, Pte Ayebare found his gun missing and a search was conducted but the gun has never recovered.

The army charged him with failure to protect war material, contrary to Section 122(1) & 2(e) & 2(i) of the UPDF Act No 7 of 2007.

His case was adjourned to tomorrow (Monday) for further hearing at the request of Capt Juuko to allow the prosecution produce more witnesses.

Meanwhile, another suspect facing a similar offence, Pte Patrick Okello Onek, 23, pleaded guilty and was convicted.

Pte Onek attached to 43rd Battalion in Obbo, CAR, was jailed for six months at the army detention centre at the 4th Division. The convict lost his sub-machine gun with 30 rounds of live ammunition on June 3.

Capt Juuko had asked for a tougher sentence, saying it would act as a deterrent to other serving soldiers to protect war material tightly, especially during war times. (NMG)