Last Updated on: 2nd August 2023, 11:11 pm
National | Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces have started an investigation after a deadly shooting on Tuesday, August 1, in Kitgum district.
Col Deo Akiiki, the Deputy Defence Spokesperson said the shooting took place at 10:00 am at Kurukuba Detach in Madiope Sub-county in Kitgum district.
He identified the UPDF soldier as Odwani Henry who shot and killed his wife, Imalingat Grace and later killed himself.
“Investigations to ascertain the motive of this unfortunate incident are ongoing.
“UPDF condemns this act and implores all soldiers to utilise our psycho-social support officers currently deployed across all Units and formations plus Political Commissars to solve any type of domestic misunderstandings without including the use of weapons,” Col Akiiki said.
Gun Crimes
Uganda continues to record cases of murders in which high-profile and low-profile persons are gunned down.
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On May 2, 2023, Col Rtd Charles Okello Engola Macodwogo was gunned down by his bodyguard Private Wilson Sabiiti who also later killed himself.
Okello (RIP) was the State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Until his shock death, Macodwogo was MP, Oyam North in the 11th Parliament.
The May 2 incident was followed by the assassination of Olaxes Ichuli. He was gunned down in Kyanja, Kampala on his way home.
Report
According to the Police Annual Crime Report of 2022, 38 guns and 705 rounds of ammunition were stolen.
Further, the same Report revealed that 114,000 guns were not registered, some of which were used in high-profile murders in the country.
At least 57,000 guns from Police, Prisons, Private Security Companies and individuals were registered by 2022.
Guns in the hands of UPDF, Special Forces Command (SFC), and Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI) officers, according to the 2022 Report, were yet to be fingerprinted.