Ugandan soldiers handed jail terms over oil scam in Mogadishu

A Ugandan military court sitting in Mogadishu has sentenced nine of its soldiers serving under the African Union sanctioned force, Amisom to jail terms after being found guilty of running an oil scam involving civilians in Mogadishu.

The court, the first from any of the troops and police contributing countries to sit in Somalia handed sentences ranging from one year to three years after finding the soldiers, who included both senior and junior ranking officers, guilty of misconduct and violating the rules and regulations of peacekeeping.

Misconduct

While reading out the verdict, the Chairman of the Court Martial, Brig. Gen. Dick Olum said the nine had damaged the image of the Ugandan People’s Defence Force and that of Amisom warning the force will not tolerate any incident of misconduct among its officers serving in peacekeeping missions.

“The prosecution has proved all the accusations of pursuing personal interest and endangering operational efficiency beyond reasonable doubt. The accused persons are hereby convicted of the charges against them and this conviction is given under my hand and seal this 15th day of August 2016. You are convicted as charged,” Gen. Olum told the soldiers.

Dismissed with disgrace

Three of the soldiers were dismissed with disgrace from service meaning they will lose out on any benefits entitled to soldiers serving with the mission.

Major Sulait, corporal Sekandi Ronal and Private Tibaijuka Expedito were all dismissed with disgrace and will serve three years, two years and two years imprisonment respectively.

Major Kundu Weyaula was handed a one year sentence and demoted to the rank of Captain while his colleague Staff Sergeant Abwot Richard was slapped with an 18 months jail term and demoted to a Sergeant.

Others are Lance Corporals Kasule Budala and Atugiriire Dennis, both sentenced to 18 months in prison and demoted to the rank of Private.

Oil racket

The soldiers were accused that in June this year they were found selling and or colluding to sell oil belonging to Amisom at Mogadishu’s Bakaro market. Pictures of the soldiers selling fuel circulated in the social media.

The nine are part of 18 soldiers who were earlier arraigned before the same court for selling fuel belonging to the Mission. They were charged after five soldiers were arrested in June, in connection with the illicit sale of fuel in a scam involving civilians in Mogadishu.

However, out of the 18, two pleaded guilty and were immediately charged, six were acquitted and one turned into a state witness, leaving the nine, who had denied any wrongdoing, to face trial.

Uganda sent its forces to Somalia in 2007 following the collapse of the Islamic Courts Union a year before. The force operates in Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle regions of Somalia.

The country has indicated it will pull out its troops from the Horn of African country as from 2017.

The convicted soldiers will serve their jail terms in Luzira prison, Uganda.