Why Army Court Handed Death Sentence to Two State Informers Over Kampala Bombings

What the report says

The General Court Martial in Makindye has sentenced two men, identified as Hamza Lyavala and Hamid Walusansa, to death for their roles in bomb-related operations in Munyonyo and Kalerwe Market that killed two women ahead of Uganda Martyrs Day celebrations in June 2025. According to Nile Post, the court said the men had pleaded guilty, but that their first-offender status and clean records did not outweigh the seriousness of the crimes.

The judgment said the pair helped plan and carry out the attacks, including providing explosives, arranging transport and housing, and taking part in reconnaissance. The court linked the first incident to the death of Sumaya Byaruhanga on June 3, 2025, and the second to the killing of Azatu Sawiya on June 21, 2025. It also said the two worked with other participants, including a military officer who is still facing related charges.

Army prosecutors had asked for the maximum penalty, while the defense urged a more proportionate sentence that would leave room for rehabilitation. Brig. Richard Tukacungurwa, who chaired the court, said the case fell into the “rarest of the rare” category and that sentencing had to reflect retribution, public denunciation and deterrence as well as rehabilitation.

The ruling is significant because it underscores how military courts are handling cases tied to alleged terrorism-related violence and state informant networks. Under Uganda’s Penal Code, murder can carry the death penalty, and the convicts were told they may appeal the sentence.