The High Court in Uganda on Friday handed down five life sentences for men convicted of perpetrating the 2010 Kampala attacks, which killed 76 people. The court also gave two 50-year terms, and one community service sentence [AP report] associated with the attacks. Five other men who had been standing trial for the attacks were acquitted. Charges for those convicted ranged from terrorism to accessory to terrorism. Prosecutors had asked for the death sentence on the higher charges. However, High Court Judge, Alfonse Owiny-Dollo, did not believe the death sentence would be useful to bringing closure to society [Reuters report].

The bombings [Guardian report] took place in the capital city of Uganda while spectators gathered at a restaurant and a rugby club to watch the World cup finals. The attacks were claimed by al Shabaab [NCTC backgrounder], a Somalian affiliate of al Qaeda. The group said the attacks were in response to the 2007 Africa Union Mission deployment of Ugandan troops in Somalia.