The Amuru magistrate’s court has convicted a 23-year-old residents of Apaa village, Labala parish in Amuru district for wearing army uniform.
Solomon Kinyera, 23, had appeared before Magistrate Edward Okot on Thursday last week.
Kinyera was charged with being in possession of government stores contrary to section 316 (1) (2) of the penal code act.
Section 164 of the UPDF act-2005 prohibits any person, without authority, from manufacturing, selling, offering or exposing for sale, wearing or using any uniform supplied to or authorized for use by the Defence Forces or any uniform so nearly resembling it.
Prosecution led by Ponsiano Okello told court that March 20, this year at Apaa village, Kinyera was found wearing an army uniform.
Kinyera however denied the charge.
Kinyera told police that he found the uniform in his bag that was brought by a neighbor only identified as Ocama.
He claims that on the fateful day, he was wearing the uniform army trouser while washing some of his cloth.
However the Magistrate dismissed his claims and accordingly ordered him to serve a 12-month-jail term.
Apaa village is a hotbed of conflict as government and local communities fight over the ownership of 40 square miles of land.
While the residents claim that the land is in Amuru, the government says its in Adjumani district.
1 Comment
Common, 12 months for wearing clothing? What if it was NRM yellow shirt? In the US one can buy Army, Marine etc uniforms from Army and Navy stores and wear it. Look he was not carrying a weapon and was not really in Uniform. It is said an officer cannot be seen drinking in uniform so most officers just remove their hat in which case they are not in uniform. Kinyera was only wearing the trousers, no hat, shirt or shoes. What would his penalty for having a weapon?