A Uganda People’s Defence Force’s (UPDF) soldier, fresh from serving in South Sudan, has shot himself dead in Gulu military barracks.
Private James Ochan attached to the fourth Division infantry barracks in Gulu shot himself on the head with his gun Friday evening after an alleged quarrel with family members.
Acholi Times understands that the deceased was among the first batch of UPDF officers who were withdrawn from South Sudan mid this month. He was reportedly awaiting redeployment to Mbale district.
He was among the 3,000 soldiers Uganda deployed in Juba and other part of South Sudan in December 2013 after a fight broke out between the rival factions of president Salva Kiir and his former vice president, Dr Riek Machar.
Fourth Division infantry Spokesperson, Lt Ronald Ovon confirmed the incident in an interview with Acholi Times on Monday.
Lt Ovon said the army is setting up an investigation team to ascertain what triggered the shooting.
He said preliminary finding suggests the deceased had squabbles with his relatives shortly after his return from South Sudan.
“This is sad news for us,’’ Lt Ovon said adding it was also sad news for the relatives of the soldier who had only a week ago returned home ”smiling” from South Sudan.
The body of the deceased, according to Lt Ovon, has been handed over to the family members for burial after a postmortem.
He however denied the shooting could be related to war trauma.
The UPDF army spokesperson, Lt Col Paddy Ankunda when contacted said in exceptional instances, some of the soldiers could be stressed as a result of the war.
He noted that the UPDF in conjunction with the British government instituted a directorate of mental health that will cater for the phychological needs of soldiers.
“As UPDF we are taking care of the mental health of our soldiers. We now have trained mental health attendants at the various army establishments in the country who will undertake to monitor the officers who just returned from the front line,” said Ankunda.
On Friday, the last battalion of UPDF soldiers left South Sudan, leaving the security of the country in the hands of the Sudanese People’s liberation Army (SPLA) and the yet -to- be deployed United Nations (UN) Peace keeping force.
