UPDF vows to punish soldiers over suicide case
By our reporter
MBUYA – Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has vowed to punish anyone that influenced the suicide by Lt Ariho of our Engineers Brigade. The late drove to Nakirebe between Wakiso and Mpigi districts on Wednesday at 2 pm pulled the trigger on his head and died instantly.
Maj Charles Kabona, the Spokesperson of UPDF First Division, said Lt Ariho serving under the Engineering Brigade driving a black car UBJ 493 Q, stopped his car at a football playground and chased away the players.
“He pulled his SMG gun from his car and committed suicide. Our soldiers from nearby detach and police rushed to the scene of the crime and cordoned off, his phone and document were recovered from his car,” Maj Kabona said.
UPDF said the body of Lt Ariho was taken to Mulago mortuary while the gun and his car were taken to Mpigi Police.
“The investigation are ongoing to ascertain the root cause of this unfortunate incident. We strongly condemn such acts in strongest terms,” Maj Kabona said.
Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye, the Director Defence Public Information described incidence is ‘very regrettable’.
“Given the fact that there are established channels to handle individual and collective challenges in the institution. The Commander Defence Forces assures the public that the UPDF will carry out a thorough investigation and whoever shall be found culpable will be brought to book,” he said.
Kulaayige added, “We appreciate that individuals do not have equal or similar skills to handle challenges, therefore we encourage our personnel to always seek administrative and professional help using our established structures.”
Incidents of security officers committing suicide are common. In 2022 at least 13 police officers and four soldiers committed suicide.
Psychologist Edward Bantu who has done mental assessments for police officers attributes such incidents to a lack of regular counselling services and poor working and living conditions.
