By Mukembo Fred
Private Robert Habertson Birivumbuka, a member of the elite Special Forces Command (SFC), was sentenced to death by a Court Martial in Mayuge District on Thursday for the murder of five family members during a tragic incident on June 29 in Nawanvubu Village, Buwaaya Sub-county.
Birivumbuka, known as “Kaaba,” faced a total of 10 charges, including murder, attempted murder, and conspiracy. The court found that he opened fire on Isaac Mudhasi Buyinza and his children—Elesi Kafuko, Resty Kantono, and Nicholas Musasizi—resulting in their deaths, while four others were injured.
Presided over by Lt Col Moses Nabaasa, the court revealed that Birivumbuka initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea after Entebbe Chief Magistrate Stella Maris Amabilis testified about his extrajudicial confession, in which he admitted to the murder of his uncle. Birivumbuka claimed his actions were motivated by Mudhasi’s alleged attempts to have him arrested and accusations against his father.
Following his conviction, Birivumbuka received multiple sentences: death for the first count of murder, 90 years for the second, life imprisonment for the third, and various additional sentences totaling over 250 years for the remaining charges, all to be served at Luzira Maximum Prison.
In a related verdict, Birivumbuka’s father, Patrick Tagaba, was sentenced to one year in jail, while Med Mumbya received a six-month term. Sharif Mudhasi Bosco was acquitted due to insufficient evidence.
Lt Col Nabaasa emphasized that the sentences serve as a strong deterrent against similar offenses, reaffirming the court’s commitment to justice in such serious matters.
