The Special Forces Command has kicked off the trial of a soldier who shot and killed a family of five in Mayuge in July.
In a June incident, Pte Herbertson Birivumbuka walked into the home of Isaac Isabirye Mudhasi, 42, and opened fire on the family members in Mayuge District in eastern Uganda.
He killed five family members.
On Monday, the division court martial of the first Special Forces Group of SFC sitting at Buwaya sub county headquarters in Mayuge district and chaired by Lt Col Moses Nabasa charged Pte Birivumbuka alongside three civilians including Patrick Tagaba, Sharifu Modasi and Meddie Muwumbia with five counts of murder contrary to section 188 and 189 of the Penal Code Act.
They were also charged with attempted murder contrary to section 204 of the Penal Code Act.
The prosecution was led by Lt David Basiima while Lt Hirald Rugyendo was the defence lawyer.
During the Monday session, Pte Birivumbika and his co accused denied all the charges according to the SFC spokesperson, Maj Jimmy Omara.
“A total of 18 witnesses have been lined up to pine the suspect on the charges and placing him on the crime scene,” Maj Omara told the UG Bulletin.
Following his arrest in July, Pte Birivumbuka confessed to SFC investigators that his was an act of revenge for his family members.
“He says he revenged by shooting his close family members because they allegedly killed his mother and wife. He says these family members poisoned his mother and wife,” a source privy to the ongoing investigations into the gruesome murder told this website.
