UPDF soldier arrested over murder

By Dennis Ojwee

A UPDF soldier attached to Opit military detachment is under arrest over the murder of a civilian and injuring four others at a pub at Opit- B Trading Center in Gulu district.

The Thursday night incident happened at Lakwana sub-county, Omoro County, 21 KM east of Gulu town. 

The UPDF soldier identified as Pte. Alfred Andrani is reported to have gone berserk when he got angry following a fight with a civilian identified as Richard Bongonyinge, 32 and later went on the run.

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Police examine the gun used by UPDF Pte Adrani in the shooting

The four people who sustained serious bullet injuries during the shooting were identified as: Geoffrey Oco from Omolo in Opit, Denis Odongo from Iceme, Nighty Adong from Opit and Stephen Odokonyero sustained serious bullet injuries in his thigh.

The four injured were rushed to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor on the fateful night in a military ambulance.

The LC 1chairman of Opit Trading Center, Charles Ojok confirmed to The New Vision that the incident occurred at about 2:00am. He said the errant UPDF soldier clad in civilian clothes dashed out of the pub after the fight and returned shortly armed with a gun, firing discriminately at revelers, starting with Bongonyige.

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A victim of the shooting critically ill at ICU Lacor hospital

“All the injured people were were drinking. The UPDF soldier then fled the scene with the gun after firing about 20 bullets; some them hit and killed and injured people”, Ojok explained.

The Director of Lacor hospital, Dr. Cyprian Opira said the condition of three injured victims was stable but the Odokonyero was seriously injured with a shattered thigh.

“All the four people sustained bullet injuries in their lower abdomen, but one of them was (Odokonyero) was seriously injured and the thigh shattered”, Dr. Opira said.

The Acting UPDF 4th Division Spokesman, 2nd Lt. Wilson Kato Agaba then said the soldier was still on the run with the gun. He said the soldier would face the military court Martial once arrested.

“Any UPDF soldier who commits a crime, such as murder will face the law. We have the Constitution, the military law and the UPDF Act, which all do not condone unlawful killing of civilians”, said Kato-Agaba.