The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) is frantically searching for a gun which was allegedly snatched from a soldier in Kitgum district.
The unnamed soldier attached to 401st Brigade at Pajimo Army Barracks in Kitgum, was reportedly attacked not far away from the barracks by yet unidentified three civilians last week.
Sources said the incident happened at about 10a.m near Pajimo Army P.7 School, as the soldier walked alone along the Kitgum-Palabek road, where the barracks located.
The three men allegedly pounced on the soldier in broad day light, overpowered him and and snatched the gun with an unknown number of ammunition.
The UPDF’s 401st Brigade Political Commissar, Lt. James Oyoo confirmed the mind boggling incident at an unrelated public meeting on Saturday at Bur-nyang village in Pajimo West parish, Labongo Akwang sub-county.
While speaking to the gathering on the need to peacefully settle land wrangles peacefully, Lt. Oyoo then informed Lamwo RDC, Rutabingwa Jonathan that “a gun was taken from one of our soldiers in Pajimo three days ago”.
The soldier reportedly suffered a broken jaw in the attack and has been moved to Makindye military barracks in Kampala for further interrogation over the loss of his gun.
Sources told Acholi Times that four suspects have so far been arrested including a woman said to be a “friend” to the soldier. Another suspect was only identified as Okello, a barber in a salon in Pajimo Trading Centre.
Another unidentified suspect is said to be a former Anti Stock Theft Unit personnel who later trained as a Police Constable but reportedly deserted the Uganda Police Force sometimes back, an incident in which he was already in court. The suspect was out of prison on court bail.
LC3 chairman Oyoo Charles Adot said the UPDF officers and Labongo Akwang sub-county leaders last Friday held a meeting with the community of Pajimo at Te Labolo village in a bid to convince them to return the robbed gun.
The army reportedly gave two days for the gun to be returned but the deadline has passed without the gun being returned.
Lt. Oyoo also said at the Bur-nyang meeting that the UPDF intended to carry out an operation in the area to recover the stolen gun. Oyoo told Acholi Times he was trying to get in touch with Acholi Religious Peace Initiative (ARLPI) to mediate over the matter with the army and the civilians.
