Soldier shoots three dead in bar over stolen phone

Gunfire rocked Soroti town on Saturday morning leaving three people dead after a UPDF soldier opened fire on revelers at Da Spot Club and Shooters bar.

A somber mood engulfed Soroti town as the three bodies lay in pools of blood after the incident along Jumabhai Road.

Broken bottles and broken plastic chairs littered the scene as the body of a woman and two men were picked by Soroti police.

Six other people who sustained gunshot wounds were rushed to Soroti Regional Referral Hospital. 

The Soroti District Police Commander (DPC) Moses Ochieng identified the dead as Aisha Apolot, Odongo, a businessman from Mukura in Ngora district. The third victim is still unidentified.

The ones admitted include are Isaac Otai, Juma Mugabi 27, a business man from Busia, Robert Eulu 40, Sam Semwogerere, 32,  a truck driver from Bukoto, Faustine Obula and Sowedi Mudegule.

According to Ochieng, the soldier who is still unidentified was in the bar with a lady and claimed his mobile phone having mobile money was stolen.

Eye witnesses said the soldier claimed the phone had mobile money worth shs600,000.

Ochieng added that the soldier reportedly demanded for his phone but he was allegedly assaulted by an unidentified reveler.

Ochieng said following the argument over the phone, the soldier left the bar only to return and open fire.

“I was serving customers when I saw a silhouette outside the bar. I only heard the gun shots sounding. I saw three people who had sustained bullet injuries running inside. I was scared and hid myself,” the bar manager only identified as Opio said. 

Some residents were heard blaming the bar operators for playing loud music for long hours causing an influx of prostitutes to the place.