UPDF Soldier Deployed In Somalia Arrested After Gunning Down Three Colleagues
By Uganda Online Media
Sad news reaching our desk indicates that a UPDF soldier attached to the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) shot three of his colleagues dead in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu on Monday morning.
The spokesperson of the UPDF contingent in Somalia, Capt George William Musinguzi identified the shooter as Corporal Simon Agaba attached to the Base camp in Mogadishu.
“This morning, at around 0600Hrs, RA/170986 Cpl Agaba Simon attached to Base camp Mogadishu in Somalia randomly shot and killed three of his colleagues,” Capt Musinguzi confirmed.
According to Capt. Musinguzi, the deceased are; Lance Corporal Christopher Kigongo, Lance Corporal Lord Charles Mangwi and Private Charles Akatwongyera.
“Investigations have commenced establishing the true cause of his actions but we suspect the soldier has been struggling with stress disorders. We commiserate with the families of the deceased,” he added.
According to a source who preferred anonymity, the soldier was deployed to guard Aden Adde International Airport and out of nowhere shot a colleague dead.
“When his colleagues heard the bullets, they thought the enemy had attacked. Whoever tried to intervene was shot down,” the source revealed
The source further revealed that the first victim was shot in the chest whereas the second one who tried to peep to observe what had happened was shot three times in the head and the third soldier was shot in the back as he tried to run away from the shooter.
“After the three shootings, the entire camp was now alert and a brave officer tip-toed and disarmed the shooter who didn’t resist.” the source added
A similar incident happened in 2019 when a UPDF Captain killed himself after shooting a colleague dead in Somalia.
Ugandan troops have been deployed in Somalia under the African Union Mission in Somalia since 2007 to fight the jihadist organisation of Al Shabaab.
Last year, the mission in Somalia metamorphosed into the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) mandated with stabilising Somalia but also aimed at transferring the full responsibilities of national security to the Federal Government of Somalia.
As part of the new mission, the UPDF is mandated to build the capacity of the institutions of the Somali government to enable it to take over the entire security situation of the country.
