Two Guilty Pleas Not Enough As Court Seeks Additional Charges Against SFC Soldier
A soldier from the elite Special Forces Command (SFC), Pte Herbertson Birivumbuka, has pleaded guilty to charges related to the killing of four family members and the injury of four others in Mayuge District.
Despite this admission, the court is pressing for further charges, particularly on conspiracy to commit murder.
The tragic incident occurred in June when Birivumbuka allegedly entered the home of Isaac Isabirye Mudhasi, who was preparing food, and opened fire, killing Mudhasi, his two daughters—Elesi Kafuko, 15, and Resty Kantono, 13—and his son, Nicholus Mudhasi, 6.
Mudhasi’s wife and several others suffered serious injuries.
Initially, Birivumbuka denied the charges alongside his co-accused, who are civilians, during a court-martial at Buwaya sub-county headquarters.
However, he later confessed, with the state presenting an extrajudicial statement in which he admitted to the crime.
Birivumbuka claimed he killed Mudhasi due to alleged plans to have him arrested and linked Mudhasi to accusations against his father, Patrick Tagaba, over a defilement case.
Though he pleaded guilty to the murder and injuries inflicted, Birivumbuka denied the charge of conspiracy to commit a felony.
The court, led by Lt Col Moses Nabaasa, adjourned the case to today, Wednesday, calling for more witnesses to address the conspiracy allegations.
