UPDF Soldier to face Court Martial for Murder

By VOM News Team

The Uganda Peoples Defence Forces 2^nd Division is set to hold a court martial in Kisoro district after one of its soldiers shot and killed a civilian during a bar brawl in Nyarubande village, Rukundo town council.

On the 2^nd of June 2022, Private Warimbwa Hamis, aged 38 years attached to Kibaya army detach shot and killed Nizeyimana Zephaniah aged 20 years, a resident of Kirwa village, Karambi parish, Nyarubuye Sub County.

On that fateful night, Private Warimbwa also shot his colleague, Private Achia William, attached to Kibaya army detach in the foot as he fidgeted to stop the inebriated solider from shooting other people.

The two soldiers, who were on foot patrol made a stopover at a bar in Rukundo Trading center, Nyarubuye Sub County called Friends Pub Pool table and lodge, where after consuming large amounts of Alcohol developed a disagreement over money.

The deceased, Nizeyimana Zephaniah, is believed to have first been humiliated by the drunk solider before being shot in the chest.

The owner of the bar, Robert Nsabimana says the deceased was first asked to remove his clothes and then asked to release 20,000 Ugandan shillings, which he did not have.

“It happened so fast, one minute he was on the floor pleading for his life, saying he had no money and the next thing, he was dead from a bullet”, Nsabimana explained

In attempt to take the gun from the shooter, Private Achia William was shot in the foot.

Having failed to disarm his colleague, he managed to flee via a back door, later being admitted to St. Francis Hospital, Mutolere.

The Killer solider is said to have returned to the barrack where he was arrested.

Kisoro Resident District Commissioner Hajji Shafiq Sekandi says, a court martial has been arranged for 5^th and 6^th of January 2022 at Mugateete grounds in Rukundo Town Council for the public to witness the concept of military justice.

“The district Security committee requested for a public hearing which has been granted. We hope that the public will use the two-day session to learn and to know that no one is above the law, Sekandi said

The court martial comes a few days after which a UPDF soldier under the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) shot three of his colleagues dead in Mogadishu on Monday morning.