By Nathan Eyagu 

MOROTO - The 3 Division Court Martial (DCM) of Uganda Peoples' Defence Forces (UPDF ) convened at Moroto army barracks has sentenced a 34 years old soldier Private Echom Richard to 30 years imprisonment for attempt to murder an innocent civilian in Soroti.

Pte Echom who joined the UPDF in 2016, had already spent 2 years and 4 months on remand was sentenced for having shot and injured his lover one Atim Daphine, a resident of cell B senior Quarters in Soroti City.

According to Maj Isaac Oware the mouth piece of 3 Division -UPDF, the open court heard that Pte Echom on 24th, July, 2022 after picking a quarrel with his lover Ms Atim, walked away and stole an SMG number UG 5615500626 with 30 rounds of ammunition belonging to his colleague Pte Lukwago Joseph of 47 Infantry Battalion who was then deployed in Soroti.

The prosecution led by Major Jeff Ringaketch stated that the convict then returned to the lover and they engaged in a verbal exchange accusing her of spending over 17 million shillings, having an affair with another man, before shooting the victim on the left knee and the right thigh. 

After the nasty incident , Pte Echom escaped much as UPDF authorities made efforts and apprehended him. Further , presenting four witnesses and following cross examination, the court also heard that the convict called the victim’s sister (Ms Eseate Hellen) while in hiding to check on the status of the victim whether she had died or was still alive at the hospital.

While pronouncing the sentence, Col. Francis Katereho the 3 Division Court Martial chairman asserted that the sentence serves as a deterrent measure to other would-be offenders.

He further stressed that the act of Pte Echom had not only caused grave injuries and disability to a civilian he should have protected but also tarnished the institutional image , noting that the UPDF does not condone such crimes. At the time of the incident ,Pte Echom was a crew soldier serving under the Anti Aircraft (AAC) unit based in Nakasongola Cantonment.