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UPDF soldier kills 8 in suspected love rage
The UPDF 2nd Division spokesman, Maj Ronald Kakurungu (pictured), identified the deceased soldiers as Lance Corporal Saverio Byansi and Pte Sarah Auma.
What you need to know:
Love affair? Residents say Cpl Moses Katungwensi Katoko shot people, including two of his colleagues after suspecting one of them of having an affair with his wife, whom he also shot dead.
Rukungiri. A Uganda People Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier attached to Mburamizi 307 Brigade in Kanungu District shot eight people dead on Thursday night and handed himself over to police.
Lance Corporal Moses Katungwensi Katoko killed two of his colleagues and six civilians.
The UPDF 2nd Division spokesman, Maj Ronald Kakurungu, identified the deceased soldiers as Lance Corporal Saverio Byansi and Pte Sarah Auma.
He identified the dead civilians as Miria Musimenta; Medard Byamukama; Oliva Tugumisirize and her 10-year-old girl Victory Komushabe. Others are Apofia Kyasimire and Shafi Ndyayijiri, all residents of Kiruma village next to the UPDF 307 Brigade base in Kanungu.
Maj Kakurungu also identified the injured as Dick Tumuheirwe, Emmanuel Mboreke, Frank Twongyeirwe and an unidentified woman. They were all taken to Bwindi hospital.
“The accused returned to the 307 UPDF Brigade barracks at Mburamizi at around 9pm, picked his gun and shot dead two colleagues before he went outside to the community, where he killed six people instantly and injured four others,” Maj Kakurungu assured the public.
He also revealed that arrangements were being made to facilitate burial of all the deceased persons and treatment for the injured.
He also said the plan for compensating the families of the deceased would soon be presented to the UPDF general headquarters for approval.
Kanungu District police commander Joab Wabwire said Cpl Katoko handed himself over at around 1.10am on Friday.
“We are yet to establish the actual cause of this unusual behaviour amid claims that the suspect had developed a mental problem,” Mr Wabwire told Saturday Monitor yesterday.
Information from the residents indicated Cpl Katoto shot his colleagues Byansi after suspecting him of having an affair with his wife Auma, whom he also shot dead.
However, Maj Kakurungu said he was not aware of such allegations but added that the investigations would establish the cause of the shooting.
In January 2014, a soldier, Sgt Robert Okiror, attached to the UPDF detach in Kisoro District, was sentenced to 30 years in prison by the court martial for shooting his girlfriend and her maid dead after a domestic quarrel.
Kanungu District councillor for Mpungu Sub-county, Mr Frank Byaruhanga, said as district leaders, they would ensure justice is done and the affected families compensated.
Kihihi Town Council Mayor Zepher Mugisha asked the government to always transfer soldiers from their current bases to other stations to avoid them familiarising with the locals. He said the killer soldier had stayed at the UPDF base for long and called his victims by names before shooting them.
Soldier knew his victims
“The soldiers called all those he killed out of their houses by pretending that he wanted help from them before shooting them. Government should put control measures to stop soldiers from attacking civilians after they have had their quarrels inside the barracks,” Mr Mugisha said.
Ms Emily Tukamuhebwa, who lost her mother Tugumisirize and 10-year-old sister Victory Komushabe in the tragedy appealed to the government for immediate support to take care of the bereaved family.
“My mother has left five children who are still in primary school and need timely support for daily necessities,” said Tukamuhebwa.
