By Aciro Tracy & Agency
The Court Martial sitting in Agago district on Wednesday sentenced Pte Bony Ameny (32), attached to the elite Special Forces Command (SFC), to death for the murder of three people in Agago district.
Pte. Ameny who was deployed at 101 Commando attached to Pako Dongo Detach in Agago district was charged with seven counts of murder, attempted murder, forceful abduction and absenteeism from duty without official authorization.
The prosecution told the court that the accused person on or around October 20 2024, at around midnight, while in Ngora East, Ngora Parish, Paimol Sub-county in Agago District with malice aforethought caused the death of Ajalo Florence 16, Santina Akidi 55 and Sunday Apiyo 19 by shooting using gun number XH57/6867.
The prosecution also noted that the accused on or around the same date shot and injured Charles Kidega, Janet Apio 20, and one-and-a-half-year-old daughter Blessing Agenorwot. On Count Seven, the accused was charged with absconding his duty station without authority.
Col Peter Musherewe, the 5th Infantry Division Field Court Martial Chairperson convicted Private Ameny on his plea on all seven counts and sentenced him to death.
During the trail, the convict noted that his target was his wife and her new husband but was confronted by locals prompting him to act in self-defence.
Ameny explained to the court that his actions were driven by his wife who fled his home in Lira district and abandoned his two children to stay with another man in Paimol Sub-County, Agago District.
Ameny said his wife fled on October 7 after stealing 16.5 million shillings in cash which he had obtained as a loan and had since been enjoying it with the new man.
Darius Agaba, the Convict’s Defence Counsel had prayed to the court for leniency since he is the sole breadwinner but Lt Nekomiya Waiswa, the State prosecutor objected to the defence mitigation and instead prayed to the court to hand the convict a maximum sentence arguing that he was a professional and well-trained soldier who knew what he was doing.
