The General Court Martial in Makindye has confirmed the guilty pleas of Hamza Lyavaala and Walusansa, who are facing two counts of murder, paving the way for their sentencing on November 2, 2026.
The court, chaired by Brigadier Richard Tukacungurwa, confirmed the pleas after the two accused informed it that they had decided to maintain their original admissions of guilt.
The development follows proceedings on October 12, when both accused indicated that they wished to change their pleas ahead of sentencing.
During the latest hearing, however, Lyavaala and Walusansa raised their hands and asked the court to retain their earlier guilty pleas.
Lyavaala told the court that he had considered changing his plea because he wanted to first give his testimony to assist the court during mitigation. He said he believed his account would be taken into consideration when the court determined his sentence.
Lyavaala, who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Islamic Call University in Uganda, apologised to the court for wasting its time and asked to maintain his earlier plea of guilty.
When questioned about his earlier testimony implicating Lt. Ephraim Byaruhanga, Lyavaala said he had done his best to play his part and had no other alternative to save the lives of the women who died. He added that Lt. Byaruhanga was the final person who made the decision.
Lyavaala also denied having been promised a lighter sentence in exchange for his testimony.
Meanwhile, Walusansa told the court that he had wanted to testify to help it understand the circumstances surrounding the incident. He subsequently confirmed that he remained guilty of both murder charges.
In its ruling, the court noted that the accused had sought to change their pleas on October 12, reportedly on the advice of their lawyers, but had since decided to maintain their original guilty pleas.
The court accepted their decision and confirmed their convictions.
The matter was adjourned to November 2, 2026, for sentencing.
By Edith Namwanje
26th Oct 2026
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