UPDF soldier shoots 10 dead over woman

Ntoroko- A UPDF soldier shot 10 people dead, including five soldiers and left 25 others injured in a shooting spree following a bar brawl over a woman in Ntoroko District on Friday night.

The killer soldier, Pte Chris Amanyire, attached to Rhino Battalion at Kanyansi barracks, also shot himself dead.

The District Police Commander, Mr Bosco Bakashaba, said the soldier went on a shooting spree after fighting with boda-boda riders over a woman at a drinking joint in Karugutu Town Council in Ntoroko.

Soldiers who died on the spot were identified as Nuwatuhwera Nabosi, Mark Kirungi, Saturday Alex and Pte Chris Amanyire (the perpetrator).

The fifth soldier died later at Buhinga Hospital where he had been admitted but was not readily identified.

The dead civilians were identified as Mama Nyabasa, Mama Muhindo, both residents of Kisenyi cell in Karugutu town council, God Aleluya and Mbambu Chachimwa, residents of Economic Village in the same town.

The bodies and the injured were taken to Buhinga Hospital in Fort Portal Town.

The Hospital Superintendent, Dr Charles Olaro, said five civilians, including three women and two men were in critical condition.

Eyewitnesses said the tragedy began when Pte Amanyire and boda-boda riders developed a quarrel over a woman in the bar.

The boda boda riders attacked Pte Amanyire and grabbed his mobile phone and smashed it. A fight broke out between the soldier and the cyclists.

The witnesses say the soldier, who sustained bruises in the fight, retreated to the barracks and returned with a gun and dressed in a pair of jean trousers and an army jacket.

Upon reaching the pub, Amanyire started random shooting at the revellers who were drinking inside, killing eight on the spot.

The UPDF 2nd Division spokesman, Maj Ronald Kakurungu, said the army was investigating the matter to establish the main cause of the tragedy.

On June 10, 2010, the army court martial on sentenced a Lanse Corporal Francis Okello, to life imprisonment for murdering his girlfriend in Karugutu Trading Centre, Ntoroko District in 2008.

Okello killed Ms Kave Esparance on July 6, 2008 by shooting her 17 times in the abdomen after he allegedly caught her with another man, kissing.

SOME OF THE PAST RAMPAGE KILLINGS

July 28, 1950
An aggrieved father, Lazaro Obwara, 55, whose child was admitted at Mulago Hospital and was at point of death ran amok and stabbed to death a woman and eleven children with a knife. He was later arrested and charged with murder.

April 15, 1983
An unknown Special Forces Police officer in Soroti, ran amok and shot and killed 16 people at the funeral of a colleague before committing suicide.

June 26, 1994
Anti-Smuggling Unit (ASU) soldier Richard Komakech shot randomly at wedding guests, killing 14 on spot; 12 died later in hospital and 13 were injured in Naguru, Kampala, after one of the female guests refused to dance with him.

December 25, 1994
Police constable Alfred Ogwang attached to Kamwenge Police station shot revellers in a disco in a trading centre, killing 13 people and wounding 14 others.

March 23, 1998
A Police officer, Fred Ngobi, shot dead seven people, including four Chinese workers at a Chinese construction company, before later killing himself.

October 15, 2006
A UPDF soldier, Bono-Lino Africano, shot seven people dead, including his wife, child and father in law at Laguti IDP camp in Pader District.
September 28, 2006
UPDF soldier, Private Andrew Wanyama, attached to the 409 brigade in Arua, shot at a crowd in Paradise night club, killing at least three people and injuring four others.

May 1, 2009
UPDF soldier, Private Nicholas Mucunguzi, attached to Presidential Guard Brigade (now Special Forces Command) opened fire on revellers at Top Pub in Kampala, killing eight people after a prostitute reportedly made off with his mobile phone and money. He later shot himself.

December 10, 2012
UPDF soldier, Herbert Rwakihembo shot three people and injured one in Kisenyi Zone III, Luzira in Nakawa Division; after his wife allegedly cheated on him.

March 9, 2013
UPDF soldier, Private Patrick Okot Odoch, shot dead 10 people including five soldiers and injured two others at a trading centre in Bombo, Luweero District.

October 7, 2013
Eight people were shot dead at Top Pub, a bar in Kampala following a scuffle between two men over a commercial sex worker. Deogratias Ilukori, a security guard was arrested later after he reported to police that his pistol was missing.

December, 2013
UPDF soldier, Patrick Odong, opened fire at revellers in a pub in Kiwanawataka, Kampala killing three people.

January 14, 2014
UPDF Soldier, Pte Andrew Sikhanga, attached to Arengekeju detach in Nadunget Sub-county, shot dead a tractor turn man in Moroto District.
[compiled by Frederic Musisi]

Additional reporting by Felix Basiime