By Spy Reporter
The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) are investigating circumstances under which an officer at the rank of Captain shot his colleague dead, before turning the gun on himself on Monday night, in Somalia.
The shocking news was revealed the Defence Ministry and UPDF Spokesperson, Brigadier Richard Karemire, who confirmed the incident but declined to give details. “It’s true. Investigations into the incident have started,” Brig. Karemire said, before hanging up. The soldier whose identity hasn’t been established reportedly turned his gun on himself after shooting his colleague for unknown reason. The Defence Ministry and UPDF Spokesperson, Brigadier Richard Karemire, has confirmed the incident but declined to give details. “It’s true. Investigations into the incident have started,” Brig Karemire said.
The deceased were both serving under the UPDF AMISOM (African Mission for Somalia) funded by the United Nations and it is not yet clear what triggered off the shooting. This incident comes exactly one month after several other soldiers shot themselves on May 13, 2019 in Somalia. Details of that incident have also remained scanty despite the confirmation by Brig. Karemire. Incidents of soldiers killing themselves or civilians have become common in the recent past. In 2016, Sgt. Isaac Obua shot dead seven of his colleagues at Makindye Military Barracks before he was gunned down. In December 2018, the UPDF court martial sentenced Pte Newton Okello to 80 years in jail for shooting dead a pregnant woman, her husband and their son. In 2013, Private Patrick Odoch killed 11 people near Bombo barracks.
