Kagadi, Uganda | URN | A Uganda People’s Defense Forces (UPDF) soldier is on the run after allegedly shooting a woman dead and injuring another person critically at Kamina landing site in Ndaiga sub-county, Kagadi district.
The soldier whose particulars have been concealed for fear of jeopardizing investigations committed the alleged offence on Thursday 4, May 2023 afternoon and is attached to Kamina Army Detach.
The deceased has been identified as Rebecca Masika, 25, a resident of Kamina landing site, while the injured person has been identified as Ivan Tugume, a resident of the same area.
It is alleged that police backed by the UPDF soldier on Thursday 4, May 2023 went to arrest Darlington Nsamba who is being accused of malicious damage to property.
After arresting Nsamba, the area residents protested his arrest causing commotion which prompted the UPDF officer to fire several bullets in the air to disperse the rowdy residents. In the process of firing bullets, a stray bullet hit Masika in the stomach, killing her instantly.
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Another stray bullet hit Tugume on the left hand critically injuring him. Tugume was rushed to Kitebere health centre III for treatment while the body of Masika was picked and handed over to the relatives after a postmortem had been conducted.
Benson Okumu, a resident says the UPDF soldier became too hostile after residents protested the arrest of Nsamba and fired several bullets. He questioned why the police involved the soldier to go and effect the arrest of the suspect.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson confirmed the incident, saying the hunt for the soldier is on. Hakiza says once arrested, the soldier will be charged with murder and attempted murder respectively. He has however cautioned members of the public to stop attacking officers while executing their lawful duties.
