Deputy CDF addresses UPDF soldier’s shooting of student in Ngora

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The deputy Chief of Defence Forces, Lt Gen. Sam Okiding, has condemned the shooting dead of a student of Teso Progressive Academy in Ngora district on Tuesday, November 18, by a UPDF soldier.

The deceased, identified as Gabriel Okiror, died instantly after being shot in the chest during a scuffle with security officers who had gone to arrest him over allegations of theft.

Gabriel Okiror who was shot dead by the UPDF officer. (Courtesy)

A statement issued by South Kyoga Regional Police Commander, David Katunda, said that police officer PC Sylvia Ijobu and UPDF soldier Private Agnes Atim attached to the Military Police in Kampala arrived at the school to apprehend Okiror, a senior three student.

Atim 

“The officers encountered resistance from the deceased, prompting Private Atim to forcefully grab the AK-47 rifle from PC Ijobu and shot Okiror in the chest, killing him instantly,” the Police said.

This incident, according to Gen. Okiding, is regrettable, and he promised the family of the deceased that the culprits will be brought to book.

“My condolences to the family over the loss of their son. As UPDF, we do not condone bad acts among individual officers. I call for calm among the family and the clan of the deceased during this difficult time,” Okiding said on Friday during a visit to the bereaved family in Akocolo Village, Omatenga Parish in Kumi District.

He handed over sh5m to the bereaved as burial expenses and sh2m to the family of the teacher who was injured.

“The army will also compensate the bereaved family for the loss of their son. The compensation will be made after all procedures regarding this case are concluded,” Gen. Okiding explained.

Earlier in the week, the clan of the deceased student tasked the school to pay for the burial costs amounting to sh10.5m.

The family and Gen. Okiding agreed to have the burial on Sunday, November 23. 

The bullet that killed Okiror also struck a Geography teacher, Bernard Majja, 28, who was only a few metres away from the commotion.

He is currently receiving treatment at Soroti regional hospital.

Background of the case

Tuesday, November 18, was an ordinary day at Teso Progressive Academy, with classes going on normally until about 10:09am when a female police officer, PC Sylvia Ijobu and Private Agnes Atim arrived at the school.

They were reportedly invited by school management to arrest Okiror, accusing him of stealing a box of another student.

Police investigations have revealed that Okiror had just returned to school on November 18, after he was suspended following allegations of theft at school in mid-October.

It is reported that when the enforcers approached him, he ran violently at the time of the attempted arrest.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that Okiror may have resisted arrest because the arresting team consisted entirely of female officers, insisting he wanted male officers to handle him.

However, this narrative was dismissed by Okiror’s parents, saying the school had never informed them about their son’s suspension.

Hellen Ikanu, the mother, explained that her son returned from school after completing his senior three examinations, but they were surprised when their son was called back.

“He was called by Omugur, the school director, informing Okiror to return to complete two papers, Chemistry and Mathematics. Okiror wondered why he was called, yet he had completed exams,” said a grieving Ikanu.

She explained that they had completed the school fees, and ever since their son joined that school, they have not been informed about any acts of indiscipline.

“We are wondering why the school will call my son over allegations of theft, and instead of handling it as a school, they call the police and the army. Was my son a rebel or what?” a teary Ikanu said.

DPC Ngora Denis Pahani confirmed the arrest of their officer, PC Ijobu, while the UPDF officer, Private Atim, is still at large.

The incident was recorded under Ngora CPS SD Ref 25/18/11/2025 (Ngora CRB 352/2025).