A Uganda People’s Defence Forces soldier in Kisoro District has died in what police say appears to be suicide.
The soldier, identified as 32-year-old Private Samuel Kwesiga, was attached to the Nyanamo Detach under the 35th Battalion. His body was found inside his unit on the morning of Monday, August 18, in Kigyeyo Village, Nyanamo Town Council.
Reports indicate that on Sunday evening, Kwesiga went to Nyanamo Trading Centre to watch the English Premier League game between Manchester United and Arsenal. He returned to the detach at around 9:00pm, told colleagues he was tired, and went to his room where he locked the door.
Not long after, residents nearby heard a gunshot. At first, it was thought to be an accidental firing. Fellow soldiers tried to check on him but got no response. When they looked through the window, they saw him lying in a pool of blood. The door was forced open and he was found dead with a gunshot wound.
Kigezi Region Police Spokesperson, Elly Maate, confirmed the case. He said the police and UPDF documented the scene and collected evidence, including a spent cartridge and a rifle with four magazines. Statements were taken from witnesses, and the body was moved to Kisoro Hospital for postmortem before being handed over to the army for burial plans.
Maate explained that investigations are still ongoing to find out why Kwesiga may have taken his own life.