Soldier kills 3, injures 1 in Luzira

A Uganda People’s Defence Force corporal was arrested yesterday after allegedly shooting three people dead and injuring another in the Luzira suburb, in what is suspected to be crime of passion.

KAMPALA

A Uganda People’s Defence Force corporal was arrested yesterday after allegedly shooting three people dead and injuring another in the Luzira suburb, in what is suspected to be crime of passion.

Lance Corporal Herbert Rwakihembo, attached to the Military Police, who recently returned from the Somalia peacekeeping mission, allegedly killed his fiancée, Irene Namuyaba, Royce Kawendeke, and Nalongo Zaina Nassolo, and also seriously injured Mr Ali Bavawala, on Monday night.

The suspect had accused Ms Namuyaba of being unfaithful andwasting money he had sent home from Somalia. The bodies of the three victims have been taken to Mulago Referral Hospital for a post-mortem, while Mr Bavawala has been admitted to the same hospital.

The Army spokesman, Col. Felix Kulayigye, condemned the killings, saying L/Cpl Rwakihembo was arrested yesterday and would be charged with murder before the General Headquarters Division Court Marshal next week.

“We sincerely regret this and assure the people of Luzira of justice. The court shall sit at the scene of the crime, in conformity with our long-tested practice,” Col. Kulayigye said. He said the soldier had accused his fiancée of misuse of funds and being unfaithful.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Mr Ibin Ssenkumbi, said the junior soldier had been trailing his fiancée on suspicion that she was involved in an extra-marital affair. “He picked up his gun and went in search of her. He found her in Luzira, seated with two other women and a man, which angered him and he started shooting,” Mr Ssenkumbi said.

Criminal acts by security personnel against civilians have been rampant, with some 657 cases investigated by police last year, 106 of which were committed by soldiers. The Annual Crime and Traffic report, 2011 shows that security personnel killed 40 people and attempted to kill 15 others. Most of these cases involved love affairs.

Early this year, police arrested two Local Defence Unit operatives of Lodwa army detachment for allegedly beating to death a 75-year-old woman before sexually assaulting two of her daughters.

Background
In 2009, a Presidential Guard Brigade soldier, Private Julius Mucunguzi, shot eight people dead at Top Pub in Kampala, accusing a female bar reveller of stealing his mobile phone and money.
The same year another soldier, Alex Kitiyo, of the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence, shot dead police constable Justine Chemutai before he turned the gun on himself at Kibuli Police Training School.

In 2010, police constable Moses Kangwagye, attached to the Mobile Police Patrol Unit, stabbed his wife at Kireka Police Barracks and vanished.

Last year, Corporal Fred Mukanya allegedly discharged 10 bullets, killing Moses Odongo and Ali Musa at Kabalagala, a Kampala suburb, in a rage over a minor road accident. While in Wakiso District, at Nalumunye, Col. John Kaye allegedly shot dead Steven Kabuye, 26, whom he suspected him of having an affair with his wife. He is now facing a murder charge in the Court Martial.

abagala@ug.nationmedia.com