Shock as soldier chops son to death

The incident in Gulu, involving the soldier who was serving in Somalia as a peacekeeper, is followed by one in Rwere Village, Kihihi Sub-county, Kanungu District where Peter Mugabi, 45, died on Thursday night from poisoning by his wife after a domestic quarrel, just a week after he returned from Somalia.

Just a week after a UPDF soldier was sentenced to 30 years in jail for killing three people, another in Gulu, Michael Ojok, is on the run after he allegedly chopped his child on Wednesday night after a domestic wrangle with the wife.

The incident in Gulu, involving the soldier who was serving in Somalia as a peacekeeper, is followed by one in Rwere Village, Kihihi Sub-county, Kanungu District where Peter Mugabi, 45, died on Thursday night from poisoning by his wife after a domestic quarrel, just a week after he returned from Somalia.

The police in Kanungu District say Mugabi was attached to Masaka Armored Brigade but was serving in Somalia where he returned from on January 26.

“The deceased went to his home in Kihihi on January 30 but developed a quarrel with his wife on arrival over matters yet to be established. On the fateful night his wife came back home at around 9pm and prepared porridge which she served the husband. Soon after taking it, he became unconscious and died at around 1:00 am,” Mr Maate said on Friday.

“The body of the deceased soldier was taken to Kambuga hospital for postmortem and the wife has been arrested to assist police in investigations,” said police spokesman for Kigezi Sub-region Elly Maate.

In Gulu, its said Ojok, after picking a domestic quarrel with his long time wife turned his anger on his one-and-half-year-old child only identified as Odoch and chopped him into pieces.

The mother had escaped and left him in the house with the child on Wednesday night.

The incident happened in Loyo- Ajonga Village, Lalogi Sub-County after Mr Ojok, a UPDF soldier who has just returned from Somalia where he spent about a year, accused his wife, Ms Patricia Achan, of having extra-marital affairs during his absence although. Ms Achan denied the claims.
Residents said the body of the child was later discovered about 200 metres away from the scene of the incident.

The officer in-charge of Lalogi police post, Mr Billy Ocaya, who confirmed the incident, said the culprit is on the run.

“Ojok’s whereabouts are not known after committing the crime but we are in touch with the relevant authorities to have him arrested.”

Col. Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF spokesperson, told this newspaper that the suspect will be tried in courts of law when apprehended because nobody has the right to take away human life.

“A crime is a crime, no matter who you are. I know he will be got any time,” he said in a phone interview on Thursday.

Last week, Lance Corporal Herbert Rwakihembo, who had been serving in Somalia, week sentenced by military court martial to 35 years in jail after allegedly shooting three people dead in Luzira in December last year.

Psychosocial trauma
Psychologists say the soldier needs help and the army should establish counselling units for the soldiers.

Despite initiating a programme to deal with the psychosocial trauma associated with prolonged deployment of its officers without leave last year, the number of incidents involving soldiers serving in Somalia is on the rise.

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