UPDF soldier dies after shooting himself, Army confirms

 A Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier has shot himself dead in the western district of Bunyangabu under unclear circumstances, authorities say.

Pte Godfrey Nandasaba reportedly took his own life from inside his army tent at Kisogi-Rwimi army detach in Kabonero Sub County.

The UPDF Mountain Division Spokesperson, Capt George Musinguzi, said the Friday shooting happened at around 6pm under circumstances that are yet to be established.

He said Pte Nandasaba’s colleagues suddenly heard bullets from his tent and when they rushed there to check what had happened, they found him lifeless with a shuttered head.

Pte Musinguzi said they are investigating circumstances under which Nandasaba cut his life short, adding that they already have leads.

“It could have been as a result of a family misunderstanding,” he said.

Several related cases have been reported in the last few months.

Pte Nandasaba’s death comes a month after UPDF said they were investigating a case in which a soldier on January 11, 2021 shot and killed two Local Defence Unit (LDU) personnel, one civilian and one police special constable at Ganda, Nansana Municipality, Wakiso District.

The UPDF deputy spokesperson, Lt Col Deo Akiiki identified the soldier as Lance Cpl Denis Awilo who was also gunned down in self defence and to stop his wanton action.

Two months earlier, police had reported that another UPDF soldier shot himself dead in Hoima District in western Uganda.

Corporal Wilson Kalyango,40, a UPDF section commander in the 13th battalion, 303 brigade reportedly gunned himself down on November 9, 2020 at around 5pm at Nyakasenene village, Kabaale Sub County.

Quoting the battalion intelligence officer, the Albertine Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Julius Hakiza told journalists then that Corporal Kalyango went missing on November 4, 2020, after a morning run exercise.

He reportedly disappeared with 120 rounds of ammunition and the army launched a search for him until they got information that he had shot himself.