Uganda military is investigating circumstances under which one of its officers deployed in Mogadishu, Somalia, ran amok and shot three colleagues dead over an unidentified issue.
The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) spokesperson, Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye, said the identities of the deceased and the motive of the shooting had not yet been identified.
The incident, according to military sources, happened Monday morning at the Mogadishu airport base, which is currently under the protection of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (Atmis).
Brig Gen Kulayigye also said the killer had been arrested and a team put in place to investigate the incident.
“It is true that one of our UPDF soldiers shot and killed his colleagues in Somalia, where they are deployed on a security mission. UPDF has put in place a board of inquiry to investigate the cause of the fatal incident,” he said.
“The suspect behind the incident was arrested and we already have him in our custody. After the investigations, he will be charged accordingly,” the army spokesperson added.
Shootings among UPDF soldiers are unusual when on mission outside the country or at home.
According to the UPDF Act 2005, a person who carelessly shoots a fellow is liable to a life imprisonment on conviction.
“A person subject to military law who carelessly shoots a fellow fighter or handles arms or ammunition in such a manner as to endanger lives of other fighters in operation commits an offence and is liable on conviction to life imprisonment” section 125 of UPDF Act 2005 reads.
