Private Birivumbuka Robert Herbertson attached to SFC who shot and killed 5 civilians and injuring 04 others in Mayuge District on 29 June, 2024 has been sentenced to death.
According to the Public Information Officer for SFC, Maj. Sam Omara, private Birivumbuka was convicted and sentenced against his plea of not guilty before an open public court marital in Mayuge District. He was however convicted by on court’s findings of guilty on 05 counts of murder, 04 counts of attempted murder.
Pte. Birivumbuka was convicted for committing murder contrary to Section 171 and 172 of the Penal Code Act under Chapter 128, and Section 187(a) of the Penal Code Act under Chapter 128.
Pte. Birivumbuka was also sentenced to 90 years imprisonment in respect to count two (murder) life imprisonment for count three (murder) 54 years imprisonment for count four (murder) 51 years imprisonment for count five. In respect to the four counts of attempted murder, the convict was handed 25 years in prison in respect to 3 counts and 20 years in respect to one count.
The presiding judge read out the sentences in an open public court which sat in Mayuge saying the offenses committed by Birivumbuka were of serious nature and there was need to deter other officers from committing the same offense. Birivumbuka however was reminded that he can appeal the sentence within 14 days from the date of conviction if he is not satisfied with the decision of court.
Uganda has the death penalty as a legal penalty, but is considered a de facto abolitionist state because of the lack of executions for over a decade. The last execution of death penalty in Uganda was in 1999.
Whereas there is global appeal to abolish death penalty, the Constitution of the Republic of Uganda, 1995 still has provisions for the death penalty in Article 22 (1). Other laws that provide for the death penalty are: the Penal Code Act Cap 120, Anti-Terrorism Act, 2002 (as amended by the Anti-Terrorism Amendment Act, 2015) and the Uganda Peoples Defence Forces Act, 2005.
