The Special Forces Command (SFC) has arrested a UPDF soldier who over the weekend shot dead five family members and injured others in an incident that occurred in Namutale village, Kabeyingire parish, Bwaya sub-county, Mayuge district.
SFC spokesperson Mr Jimmy Omara said Monday that Pte Herbertson Birivumbika, who is attached to the Special Forces Command, had escaped from his duty station and travelled to Namale Village, Kabayingire Parish, Buwaya Sub-county in Mayuge where he allegedly shot four family members dead and injured five others.
“Upon committing the offence, the said soldier then rushed back to his place of work in a bid to avoid any possible suspicion but his unit had already detected his absence,” Maj Omara said.
“Once he returned, he was arrested because all fingers pointed to him. He is detained in our facility awaiting the long arm of the law to dispense justice.”
The Saturday night incident sent shockwaves to residents in Mayuge when the soldier walked into the home of Isaac Isabirye Mudhasi, 42, who was found eviscerating chicken for a visitor and opened fire on the family members.
According to Mirabu Namukose, who had visited, Mudhasi and two of his daughters Elesi Kafuko, 15, and Resty Kantono, 13, and a son Nicholas Mudhasi, 6, were killed on the spot, while his wife and four other family members sustained serious injuries.
The attack is alleged to be linked to a long-standing land dispute that has been ongoing.
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In a statement on Monday morning, the SFC public information officer regretted the incident. “This is a very sad and regrettable incident, we would like to condole with the affected families.
“As a Command, we would also like to ask the people of Namale to cooperate with the investigators so that the suspect is quickly brought forward to face the law,” Maj Omara said
“As UPDF (SFC), we would like to assure the population that our strategic relationship with the wanainchi (citizens) will be highly maintained as we weed out errant members of the force,” he added.
Cases of homicides have been on the rise in recent years. The crime report compiled by the Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) shows more Ugandans were killed in 2023 compared to the lives that were lost in 2022.
The figures that are part of the 2023 police annual crime and traffic report show that 4,248 Ugandans were killed which translates into 205 more induced deaths over the previous year’s record.
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