By Our Reporter
Two brothers serving in the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF), Private Julius Kisuule and Private David Kisuule, have been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Evelyn Nantale, a mobile money agent, in Kamwamu Zone, Kiyindi Town Council, Buikwe District.
The General Court Martial (GCM), chaired by Brig. Gen. Freeman Robert Mugabe, handed down the sentence on Tuesday. Mugabe emphasized the seriousness of the crime, noting that such offenses are alarmingly prevalent in society. “The maximum penalty for this offense is death,” Mugabe stated.
“However, while the convicts are first-time offenders and middle-aged men, the need for a strong deterrent sentence outweighs these considerations.”
He reminded the convicts of their right to appeal the sentence within 14 days if they are dissatisfied with the outcome. The court heard that the brothers had already spent four years and 25 days on remand at Luzira Prison. Their defense was led by lawyer Emmanuel Turyomwe.
During the sentencing, Mugabe condemned the senseless killing of the 16-year-old Nantale, whose life was tragically cut short by the brothers’ reckless actions. Despite having no prior criminal record, the brothers were held fully responsible for her death.
State prosecutor Alex Rasto Mukhwana highlighted the irony of the situation, pointing out that the brothers, who were trained to serve and protect Ugandans, had instead used their military skills and weapons to commit heinous crimes, including murder and theft.
“The UPDF-trained brothers utilized the very skills meant to safeguard Ugandans to perpetrate crimes against them, turning their protection into a source of harm,” Mukhwana stated.
Conviction
The court martial found the Kisuule brothers guilty of murder on July 23, following the testimony of five prosecution witnesses. The court ruled that the prosecution had proven the case against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.
“This court, after evaluating the evidence on record, is satisfied that the prosecution proved each ingredient of the offense of murder against the accused persons,” the court martial chairman ruled. “I hereby find each of the accused guilty of murder, contrary to Sections 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act.”
The court agreed with state prosecutors Mukhwana and Capt. Ambrose Guma that the actions of David Kisuule, including his disappearance from the crime scene, indicated his involvement in the murder. The court also noted that there were no major inconsistencies in the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses, as alleged by the defense. Mugabe rejected David’s alibi, which claimed that he had been at home during the time of the murder. The alibi was disproven during the trial, with evidence showing that David had fled the scene after the shooting.
During the trial, Assistant Superintendent of Police Afsa Ninkunda testified that she heard gunshots on the morning of January 9, 2020, and rushed to the scene where she found a mob surrounding Julius, who was bleeding. Julius was rescued from the mob and taken to the police, where he confessed to shooting Nantale and revealed that his brother David had fled with the murder weapon.
Another prosecution witness, Abdala Kabonge, a police officer attached to Lugazi Police Station, corroborated the sequence of events. He testified that he found Nantale’s body lying in a pool of blood at the scene and later encountered Julius at Kiyindi Police Station, where he had been detained after being severely beaten by the mob. Julius was then taken to Kawolo Hospital for treatment.
The court’s decision to impose life sentences on the brothers underscores the gravity of their crime and the message that such actions will not be tolerated.
Torch Media Africa
