4th Division Military Court Martial Sentences Corporal Okwi Franco to 40 Years in Jail for Shooting a Civilian Dead in Arua District.
Civilians and Soldiers attending the Court Martial.
Watch Video of the sentencing here.
Following rigorous efforts put by Arua District Deputy RDC Mr Ezama Ham Mizamil to communicate the ugly incident to relevant Ministries including Minister for Presidency Hon Babirye Milly Bbabalnda, and also his relentless efforts to convince angry residents of Arivu Sub-county to cool down over the death of their 22-year-old son Shida Philliam who was shot dead on Christmas Day 25-12-2022 by a UPDF soldier, Corporal Okwi Franco with gun registration number "SMG UG UPDF 49003009", the family has finally received justice in Court.
The UPDF 4th Division Military Court Martial Chaired by Colonel George Nambafu has on Monday 13-3-2023 jailed one of their own, Franco Okwi at the rank of Corporal, who shot dead a 22-year-old Civilian Mr Shida Philliam in Etori village, Awika Parish, Arivu Sub-county in Arua District on 25-12-2022 after a misunderstanding ensued between them.
Investigation found that, Corporal Okwi Franco while at his duty post at Bondo Army barracks, asked Mr Shida Philliam who was from church and going home, to buy alcohol for him (Okwi) using his own money.
When Shida said he doesn't have money to buy the alcohol, it angered the soldier to fire bullets unto the deceased, with the first bullet shot in the air and the second bullet hit the victim at the buttocks, penetrating through the femur and damaging his urinary bladder.
Postmortem result indicates that, the victim died of hemorrhage (excessive bleeding) caused by the gunshot bullet.
The State Prosecutor of the Court Martial, Captain Augustin Tumwibazi asked Court to offer harsh sentence for the accused person (Franco Okwi) so that it would be a deterrent for the rest of the soldiers in UPDF Army.
The prosecutor's request was objected by the accused's defense lawyer of the court martial, Lt Colonel Daniel Musinguzi, who said, the accused Corporal Okwi Franco is currently 40 years of age with two wives and nine children, henceforth serving him with harsh sentence will put his family in jeopardy since he is the only bread winner for the family.
Upon reading of the ruling on the case, the Military Court Martial rejected the accused Okwi Franco's request to ask forgiveness from the bereaved family so that he can be pardoned by Court Martial from being sentenced.
The accused Franco and his defence lawyer Lt Col Musinguzi alluded that, the he was attacked on duty by the victim (Shida Philliam) upon attempting to arrest him over the misunderstanding which then resulted into the shooting, a statement the Court Martial overruled, noting that, Corporal Okwi Franco as a well trained UPDF officer, would have used key parts on the gun like Gun bart or Gun bayonet to defend himself from the attacker instead of shooting the person.
Click 👆 here to watch the Court Martial Ruling.
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