The army is undertaking a research to establish why its officers are turning their guns on the population which they are mandated to protect.
Gen Edward Katumba Wamala, the Uganda’s Chief of Defence forces revealed this on Friday during the passing of 20 pilots at the Gulu airbase.
Over the years, and more recently, there has been an increase in cases of soldier’s turning their guns on civilians.
Speaking on the sidelines of the passing out of the pilots, Gen Katumba Wamala said the research will guide the next course of action in order for the problem to be addressed.
The army chief said such an effort will offer psychosocial support for soldiers suffering trauma.
The General dismissed reports that the officers engaged on shootings are only those who have served in Somalia. He pointed out that 80 percent of the army officers involved in shootings have not served in war torn Somalia.
In 2013, a soldier who had returned from military operations in Somalia, hacked his two-year-old daughter to death in Gulu district.
Recently, resident of Amuru district called for psychosocial rehabilitation for soldiers. The calls came during the trial of Kennedy Okumu, 40-year-old UPDF officer who shot and killed a barmaid, Aisha Faidha, in Bibia Trading Centre in Amuru district in April last year.
Recently, the Ugandan Army Spokesperson Lt. Col Paddy Ankunda said the army has set up a directorate of Health to offer psychosocial support to soldiers.
