The 4th Division Court Martial in Gulu City has sentenced Private Owen Okumu, 27, to 52 years in prison after he was convicted of losing an SMG rifle and 120 rounds of ammunition.
Okumu was found guilty of failing to protect war materials, a violation of the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) Act, Chapter 330.
Prosecutor Captain Augustine Tumwebaze told the court that on December 30, 2023, Okumu left his patrol duty armed with an SMG rifle, serial number 56-48000707, and the ammunition.
He allegedly went on a drinking spree at Buganda Pub in Gulu City, where he fell asleep. During this time, the rifle and ammunition were stolen and remain unrecovered.
Citing the gravity of the case, Tumwebaze called for a stringent sentence, emphasizing the potential harm caused by the stolen firearm and ammunition.
Presiding over the trial, Court Martial Chairman Colonel Innocent Tukashaba described the loss of the weapon as severely aggravated.
“The atrocities this gun may have caused remain unknown. Whether this act was intentional or not, the court has decided to sentence RA/270603 Private Owen Okumu to 52 years in government prison,” he said.
This sentencing comes amid rising armed robberies in Gulu City, with business owners, particularly mobile money operators, frequently targeted.
In a separate case, the same court dismissed Private Douglas Asio, 29, from the army with disgrace.
Prosecutors revealed that Asio, stationed at the 409 Brigade headquarters in Bondo Barracks, Arua District, was granted a two-week leave in January 2023 but failed to return.
He was declared absent without official leave (AWOL) in October of that year.
Asio reportedly resurfaced in June 2024 after UPDF salaries were increased. Delivering the sentence, Colonel Tukashaba reminded soldiers that service in the UPDF demands discipline and sacrifice.
The convicted soldier was marched out of the 4th Division Quarter Guard by hundreds of colleagues in a symbolic dismissal ceremony.
These cases underline the UPDF’s strict stance on discipline and accountability within its ranks.
