Eight die in Makindye Barracks shootout

Seven people have been shot dead inside Makindye Military barracks by a soldier who has also been killed in the shoot out.

The spokesperson of Military police Capt Edward Birungi confirmed the incident, saying the barracks has been cordoned off.

Most of those confirmed dead are soldiers’ wives.

Lt. Col. Paddy Ankunda, the army spokesman tweeted: "Sad moment#Sgt Obua Isaac of military police Makindye has just gone bonkers# killed seven people All of the killed are women and children, one child injured Sgt Obua Isaac, the killer himself has been Put out of Action".

Sgt Obua was working as a laboratory technician in the barracks that also houses cells for soldiers on trial or those serving sentences.

By yesterday evening, a team of investigators from Katwe Police Station, military intelligence and civilians were inside the barracks for investigations.
Maj Birungi said Sgt Obua had separated with the wife, who is also a soldier in the barracks, and had been ordered to take care of his two children staying with the mother.
Incidents of soldiers shooting and killing people are increasingly becoming a worrying trend. Some of the soldiers have served in war zones such as South Sudan and Somalia and analysts say the acts are as a result of war trauma.
According to eye witnesses, the incident occurred at 4pm and lasted about 30 minutes before soldiers encircled Sgt Obua and used an armoured personnel carrier to kill him.
There was heavy deployment as investigators cordoned off the crime scene. Inside the barracks, a soldier was seen wailing. By 7pm, the bodies were being moved to Mulago Hospital mortuary.