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UPDF soldier says he wasn’t sober when he shot, killed 3 civilians in Rubirizi
This photo taken on January 4, 2021 shows residents of Ryeru sub county in Rubirizi District gathered to witness hearing of murder charges against a UPDF soldier, Private Bobson Amutuhereize, who shot and killed three civilians in Rubirizi on December 27, 2020. PHOTO/ FELIX AINEBYOONA
What you need to know:
- Private Bobson Amutuhairize pleaded guilty to killing Tibakazire and said he was not sober at the time of the shooting.
- He is said to have singed for an SMG riffle and 120 rounds of ammunition on the fateful day.
A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier who has been convicted of murder on his own plea of guilty told court that he was not sober at the time of the shooting.
Private Bobson Amutuhairize is accused of shooting three people dead in Rubirizi District on December 27, 2020. The shooting also left three other civilians nursing bullet wounds.
He is charged with three counts of murder and six counts of attempted murder after he aimed his gun at civilians some senior ranking officers in his camp.
Prosecution yesterday told Second division Court Martial siting at Mubanda Primary School in Ryeru Sub County in Rubirizi District that on December 27, 2020 while in Mubanda Village, Mubanda parish, Ryeru Sub County at around 0200hours, AX017942 Bobson Amutuheirize with malice aforethought, shot Ms Scovia Tibakazire using an SMG gun number 5603545 injuring her before she died on the way to hospital.
Amutuheirize is also accused of killing Ninsiima Oliver and Mayi Conrad.
He pleaded guilty to killing Tibakazire and said he was not sober at the time of the shooting.
‘’My head was not sober because there was something disturbing me. I was not sober. It was not my plan to kill people although they died. I never intended to kill those people because my head was not clear,’’ Amutuheirize told court chaired by Lt. Col. Emmanuel Mwesigwa.
Lt. Col Mwesigwa then said a plea of guilty had been entered for the murder Tibakazire.
On the other two murder and six attempted murder charges, court entered a plea of not guilty after Amutuheirize insited it was not his intention to shoot at civilians.
The state prosecutor Lt. Col James Omondi said Amutuheirize signed for the gun and 120 rounds of ammunition on the fateful day.
By the time of arrest, the accused had used 120 ammunitions to commit the alleged offence.
Further hearing of the case and sentence was adjourned to Tuesday (January 15, 2021).
