In Agago District, Northern Uganda, the military is holding one of their own for shooting a civilian dead.
The shooting incident occurred on Sunday at Lukwong village, Lomoi parish, Omia-Pachua sub-county—a UPDF soldier shot and killed a civilian during a routine night patrol.
Capt. Edrin Mawanda, the 5th Division spokesperson, said, “The Division commander, Maj Gen Keith Katungi, has sanctioned deeper investigations. We regret the incident that resulted in the fatal shooting of a civilian.”
Reports state UPDF soldiers from the 79 Battalion encountered a group of civilians drinking and playing cards beyond curfew time, which was imposed by the area local leaders.
The soldiers confiscated and tore the cards, leading to a scuffle. One of the civilians, identified as Ongwech, grabbed the soldier, Pte Samuel Ebamu, by the neck, sparking a fight.
After overpowering the civilians, Ebamu ran around the building, searching for the gang, and shot the deceased twice in the stomach, killing him instantly. The incident occurred at around 2:30 AM.
“The soldier (shooter) identified as Pte Samuel Ebamu… decided to confiscate their cards plus the money,” said Mr. Joe Oloya, the regional police community liaison officer and spokesperson for Aswa East Region.
The suspect, Pte Ebamu, has been arrested by the army and yet to be handed over to the police.
The gang, led by Paul Ongwech, fled the scene and is still at large, but security forces are actively pursuing them to ensure fairness.
The UPDF has called on the public to respect armed security officers on duty while also promising to investigate the incident thoroughly.
“We urge the public to always respect armed security officers on duty. We are committed to getting to the bottom of this incident and ensuring that justice is served,” said Capt. Mawanda.
