The Mountain Division Court chaired by Lt Col Felix Nyero sitting at Karusandara in Kasese and has charged four UPDF personnel with murder of Benon Nsimenta.
Nsimenta was shot and killed by soldiers manning a roadblock on Wednesday last week on his way to the garden in Kanamba village in Karusandara sub-county.
Benon Musimenta, a father of eight, was a lay reader of Kogore COU (Anglican) under the South Rwenzori diocese and was to be ordained Reverend in November this year.
On Monday UPDF court heard that four soldiers; Abraham Lokwap aged 23, Joel Atim, Talent Akampulira and Jackson Nyero on June 24 with malice aforethought unlawfully caused the death of Benon Nsimenta by shooting.
The deceased’s wife Allen Musimenta who witnessed the murder earlier said the UPDF soldiers were standing on both sides of the road and stopped them while riding a motorcycle and before they could talk to the officers.
“I saw one of them crossing the road from one side before opening fire at at my husband. The motorcycle lost control before my husband and I fell down as he bled profusely. He was shot in the neck,” Ms Musimenta recounted.
The murder happened at Karungibati along Hima-Kasese road where soldiers have mounted a roadblock.
The army publicist Brig. Richard Karemire says these are individual acts of errant soldiers and their conduct does not reflect the policy or even the character of the UPDF.
“We will not relent on our commitment to guarantee to the country a disciplined army,” Karemire adds.
