UPDF soldier arrested for allegedly killing friend over woman

A Uganda People's Defence Force (UPDF) soldier, Private Jacob Amali, 26, has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his friend, Haggai Okullo, 25, over a woman at a local bar in Kidilani trading centre, Apac District.

According to North Kyoga Regional Police Public Relations Officer, SP Patrick Jimmy Okema, the incident occurred after Amali and Okullo got into a fight over a woman, Winnie Auma, at 'Acan pe Nino' bar. "Later at night, a disagreement came between him and Haggai (deceased now) because of struggling for a lady...this resulted into a fight. After the fight, the suspect left and later at around 4 am, came back with the gun and allegedly shot at the deceased," Okema said.

Okema added that Amali had been drinking with Okullo and other friends at the bar before the fight broke out. "The suspect who was at first unarmed started struggling with his friend Okullo to win the love of a woman they found in the bar, but both of them were interested in," Okema explained.

Amali, who is attached to the 103 battalion in Lacekocot detach in Pader District, allegedly escaped from his workplace with a gun on January 7, 2025, and proceeded to his home in Kwoyo village, Kidilani parish, Chegere Sub-county. However, UPDF 5th Division Public Relations Officer, Capt. Edrin Mawanda, denied that Amali escaped with a gun, saying he got an official leave to go home and deposited his gun at the armorer.

"The gun which was used in the murder is not our (army's) gun since the suspect left his gun at his unit's armorer. He got a pass to go to their home, but did not escape from his duty station," Capt. Mawanda said. "Our intelligence in the area are investigating the matter, because we suspect that there could be illegal guns in that area and we shall come out with a detailed report on that incident."

Okema said that Amali's friend, Olila, and Winnie Auma have also been arrested to support investigations. The body of the deceased has been taken to Apac main Hospital's mortuary for postmortem.

"This is really a very unfortunate incident, and it's the 2nd time we are registering murder by shooting in Apac District in a space of one week," Okema said. Amali is reported to have been released from Kinene prison in Pader District last year in September on charges of assaulting his Commander at work.

The police have urged residents to remain calm and to cooperate with the authorities as they investigate the incident.