Two Ugandans accused of guerrilla activities were publicly shot at Mbale Town on Saturday (10 February). They were among twelve men publicly executed throughout Uganda on Saturday. A military spokesman said the executions were a real lesson to Ugandans of the dangers of engaging in guerrilla activities. Eleven of those shot were sentenced to death for guerrilla activities, while the twelfth, executed in Kampala, was said to be an armed robber.

Thousands of people witnessed the executions in seven different towns. They had been sentenced to death over the past two weeks by a special military tribunal which sat in secret at the capital, Kampala. The country's defence council confirmed the sentences and it was ruled that the executions be held in each condemned man's own district "so that everyone, including his parents, can see."
SYNOPSIS: Men accused of guerrilla activities were publicly executed throughout Uganda on Saturday. These two men were shot at Mbale Town in eastern Uganda... one of seven execution sites.

Crowds of spectators, including many children, witnessed the shootings at Mbale... a scene which was repeated throughout Uganda.

Eleven of those shot had been convicted of guerrilla activities, the twelfth was said to be guilty of armed robbery. A military spokesman said the public shootings were a real lesson to Ugandans of the danger of engaging in guerrilla activities. All those condemned to death were executed in centres close to where they lived.

All twelve were sentenced in secret by a special military tribunal, sitting over the previous two weeks at a Kampala military prison. Uganda's defence council, headed by President Idi Amin, confirmed the sentences.

These were the first public executions in the history of the former British colony. After the order to fire was given, a volley of shots was the only sound. There was no audible reaction from the crowd.

One of the men executed at Male Town was a former officer in the Ugandan Army, Captain Masaba. Others included an ex-police officer and a former district commissioner.

The men were examined by doctors to ensure they had died in the first volley of shots.

The twelve executed men had been accused of a variety of crimes ranging from possessing arms and ammunition to planning the assassination of government ministers and high-ranking army officers.