Uganda: Army court convicts 12 officers over Arrow Boys salary arrears

Mbale.

Twelve senior UPDF officers accused of embezzling Arrow Boys salary arrears have been convicted and handed sentences ranging from three to five months in prison.

A Court Martial session sitting at Bugema’s UPDF 3rd Division Infantry headquarters in Mbale on Monday convicted the 12 for embezzling more than Shs500 million.

The sentence will be served from Makindye Military Prison.

Court chaired by Col John Tumwebaze ruled the 12 were guilty of stealing more than Shs500 million, part of the Shs1.1 billion.

The money had been sent by the Ministry of Defence for payment of the 14 month salary arrears for Arrow Boys, a local militia that had helped to fight LRA rebels in the Teso sub-region.

Those convicted included Maj Francis Musana, Maj Hannington Kibula, Maj Charles Kawa, Maj Godfrey Bizibu, Maj Innocent Kamurasi and Lt Gregory Eilor.

They will each serve five months in prison.

Others are Lt Stephen Otim, Capt Govin Ogena, Sgt Lawrence Oriokot and Cpl. Richard Omeda will serve a sentence of four months.

Meanwhile Staff Sgt John Chemonges and Lt Denis Ochakacon were sentenced to three months in detention each.

The Arrow Boys militia was formed in 2003 to boost the efforts of the Uganda People’s Defense Forces – UPDF to fight an invasion by the Lord’s Resistance Army rebels in Teso sub region.

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