The General Court Martial (GCM) at Makindye in Kampala has condemned a self-styled pastor attached to Cross of Miracle Church Kanyanya in Kampala city to three years in prison after finding him guilty of illegally wearing a Defence Forces uniform.
Jonathan Nzogi, 31, who told the court that he only wore the uniform to lure believers to their church and crusades was Monday (July 15, 2024) accorded the sentence by the GCM chairman Brig. Gen Robert Freeman Mugabe.
Sentencing the convict, Gen. Mugabe ruled that he had put into consideration the fact that the maximum sentence for the offence committed is seven years’ imprisonment, that the convict readily pleaded guilty, is a family man, and a first offender.
Mugabe further considered the period of remand the convict had spent on remand, observing that the offence was rampant, and that “A sentence of three (3) years imprisonment is appropriate.”
“In the premises, this court after deducting a period of one month and two days spent on remand/lawful custody and further deducting six months of mitigating factors, hereby sentences you to two years, four months and twenty-eight days imprisonment,” ruled Gen. Mugabe, advising the convict of his right to appeal within 14 days if he was not satisfied with his court’s decision.
Represented by Captain Simon Nsubuga Busagwa, the convict had invited the GCM to accord him a lenient sentence, saying he had readily pleaded guilty, did not waste court’s time and was remorseful, a young man and that he was ready to reform.
Background
Asked by the court where he got the UPDF uniform and why he used to wear it, Nzogi said he always wore the uniform on crusades to attract believers to join their church and crusades.
“Whenever they (people) saw me in that uniform, they would say if an officer is worshipping and praying to God, why not me, thereby joining the crusade and church,” he said.
He further told the court that his friend and also a pastor, one Staff Sergeant Ssegawa always gave him the said uniform to wear, but on the fateful day of his arrest, he had stolen the uniform from Kaweweta Military Training School in Nakaseke district without the said soldier’s knowledge.
The charge
Prosecution led by the UPDF Director of Prosecutions, Col Raphael Mugisha, and Captain Alex Mukhwana told the court that on June 13, 2024, at around 4:00 pm while at Buloba checkpoint on the Kampala-Mityana Road in Wakiso district, Nzogi was found unlawfully wearing UPDF digital camouflage uniform with a red beret, which is gazette Defence stores.
The charge contravenes sections 164 (1) (a) of the UPDF Act, 2005 and attracts a maximum sentence of 7 years imprisonment on conviction.
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