Catholic priest sentenced to 31 years in prison for murder, attempted murder, in Uganda

KAMPALA, Uganda — A Catholic priest previously suspended in Uganda has been sentenced to 31 years in prison after pleading guilty to the murder of a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) official and the attempted murder of a man who tried to help, bringing to a close a criminal case that has drawn widespread attention in the East African nation.

Justice Flavia Nabakooza of the High Court in Entebbe handed down the sentences on July 23 after Father Dominic Alinga admitted to the murder of John Bosco Ngorok and the attempted murder of Moses Abigaba, who was riding a boda boda (a bicycle or motorcycle used as a taxi to carry passengers or goods) and tried to intervene.

The court sentenced Alinga to 21 years in prison for murder and 10 years for attempted murder. The sentences are to run concurrently. The court also ordered that compensation be paid to Abigaba, who survived the attack.

According to Ugandaʼs Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Alinga admitted responsibility for both offenses during court proceedings.

“The conviction demonstrates that criminal responsibility applies equally to all persons regardless of their social or religious status,” the ODPP said…