Moses Ddiba Ssentongo

Moses Ddiba Ssentongo
Born Uganda
Residence Kampala, Uganda
Nationality Ugandan
Ethnicity Muganda
Citizenship Uganda
Occupation Military Officer
Years active 1995 - present
Known for Military Matters
Home town Kampala

Brigadier Moses Ddiba Ssentongo, is an army officer. He currently serves as the Chairman of the UPDF General Court Martial, one of the highest military courts in the Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF). He was appointed to that position in June 2013 by General Yoweri Museveni, the Commander in Chief of the UPDF and the President of Uganda.[1] Prior to that, Brigadier Ssentongo served as the Political Commissar of the UPDF. He replaced Brigadier Fred Tolit, who was appointed as Uganda’s Defense Attaché to the headquarters of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.[2]

History

He was born in Central Uganda.

Military career

Besides serving as Political Commissar of the UPDF, prior to his current assignment, he also served as Chief of Education and Sports in the UPDF.[3]

During his tenure, as Chairman of the General Court Martial of the UPDF, the court martial has handled a number of important cases including:

  1. The trial of Brigadier Michael Ondoga, the former commander of the Ugandan contingent to AMISOM, in Somalia. He, with others is accused of (a) Failure to brief seniors (b) Lying about the position of the enemy and (c) Making false accusations against a junior officer. The trial is still ongoing as of June 2014.[4]
  2. The sentencing of four men, gun smugglers, who shot and killed a female Belgian tourist, Annick Van De Venster, 35, whose campfire they mistook for a park ranger's. The murder occurred in Mount Elgon National Park, in 2008. Fred Kipsang, the triggerman was sentenced to 30 years in prison. His accomplices, Moses Chemtai, Patrick Chebles and Kamada Chepkurui were each given ten years behind bars.[5][6] The four civilians were court marshaled under a Ugandan law that allows the state to try, in military courts, those accused of committing crimes on national property (the national park), while armed.
  3. The ongoing trial of Colonel Shaban Bantariza, a former UPDF spokesperson, and one-time Director of the National Leadership Institute (NALI), based in Kyankwanzi, Kyankwanzi District, Central Uganda. The Colonel is accused of (a) Abuse of office (b) Embezzlement and (c) Corruption.[7]
  4. The ongoing trial of Colonel Hassan Kimbowa, former commanding officer of Battle Group XI, in the Ugandan AMISOM contingent to Somalia. He and Lieutenant Colonel Benson Olanya, a member of the same military unit are accused of selling military fuel to Somali citizens, contrary to standing orders. Some of their clients turned out to be AMISOM informers.[8]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Kwesiga, Pascal (27 June 2013). "Brigadier Ssentongo Appointed New Army Court Boss". New Vision. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  2. ↑ Kwesiga, Pascal (16 October 2013). "Brigadier Tolit Appointed Defence Envoy to AU". New Vision. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  3. ↑ Ephrahim Kasozi, and Juliet Kigongo (26 June 2013). "General Court Martial Gets New Chairman". Daily Monitor Mobile. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  4. ↑ Kwesiga, Pascal (14 May 2014). "Brigadier Ondoga Attends Trial". New Vision. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  5. ↑ Kwesiga, Pascal (6 June 2014). "Four Jailed for Killing Mt. Elgon Belgian". New Vision. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  6. ↑ Kasozi, Ephraim (11 June 2014). "Military Court Jails 4 for Killing Belgian Tourist". Daily Monitor Mobile. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  7. ↑ Lubwama, Siraje (20 March 2014). "Bantariza Trial: UPDF Witness Contradicts Prosecution Claims". Retrieved 11 June 2014.
  8. ↑ Kasozi, Ephrahim (26 April 2014). "UPDF Bosses Sold War Fuel to Somalis, Says Witness". Daily Monitor. Retrieved 11 June 2014.

External links

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