Six Kenyans in Ugandan prison found to be underage
By Wycliffe Kipsang, December 21, 2023
A Ugandan army court has ordered the immediate transfer of six convicted Kenyan herders from Murchison Bay Prison in Luzira to Naguru Remand Home after they were found to be underage.
Media reports stated that the radiology department at Mulago Hospital in Kampala had issued the medical report on age estimation of Lojorei Limeriana,Lokiru Lomukunyu, Lookor Lokkwang, Laboin Ekori Namude, Longatunyio Lokwang and Kokole Moru showing they were below 18.
The six are out of the 32 Kenyan pastoralists who were sentenced to 10 years in prison for being in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition at Karamoja region in March.
“According to the medical age assessment reports presented to court by the convicts’ lawyer Jesse Soita, the six are minors,” the reports quoted Brig General Freeman Robert Mugabe, of the General Court Martial.
In April, a Martial court sitting at the third division in Moroto sentenced each of the 32 people to 10 years in prison after they confessed to the charges of being in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition.
But appealing the conviction, they challenged the jurisdiction of the army to try them.
“Holding a trial, conviction and sentencing minors to 10 years on each count in prison designated for adults occasioned miscarriage of justice,” their lawyer argued.