Army Confirms Deceased in Buddo Shooting Was Army Deserter

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) has confirmed that the man killed in a shooting incident at Buddo Junction, Kyengera Town Council, on July 23, 2024, was an army deserter. The deceased has been identified as Private Lawrence Ekirapa.

UPDF 1st Division spokesperson, Charles Kabona, revealed that Ekirapa had been declared Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL) on May 17, 2024. The notification of his AWOL status was disseminated to all army units. According to Kabona, this means that Ekirapa was no longer an active soldier at the time of his death.

AWOL status is a serious military offence, signifying that a service member has left the military without proper authorization. It is considered a grave breach of military discipline.

The incident occurred during what police described as a failed kidnapping attempt. A stray bullet from the chaos tragically struck and killed Evelyn Zallia Nalumansi Kironde, a female pedestrian and Uganda Revenue Authority employee who was in the vicinity.

According to a police statement, the shooting unfolded around 8:00 p.m. on July 23, 2024, after initial information from a boda boda rider reported a shooting at Buddo Junction. Police officers from Buddo Junior Police Post arrived at the scene and confirmed the deaths of two individuals: a female on the tarmac and a male inside a vehicle, registration number UAK 375U.

The incident involved Brigadier Charles Asiimwe, a UPDF attaché to the Democratic Republic of Congo and a resident of Seguku Kajjansi Town Council. Asiimwe had sent his driver, Corporal Daniel Okiror, and Okiror’s brother Ian on a mission to Kasese, using vehicle registration number UBL 990X Mark X. On their return, they were joined by a female relative of the Ambassador to Djibouti, Richard Kalumina.

According to the police, as the group neared Mpigi, their vehicle was stopped by a silver-grey car with the registration number UAK 375U. The occupants of this vehicle, dressed in military attire and armed with a pistol, ordered the passengers of the Mark X to switch vehicles. While the group complied, suspicions arose as two individuals remained in their vehicle, leading to concerns about their safety.

During the course of the event, Okiror was disarmed of his pistol and the assailants communicated their intentions to deliver their captives to a third party. Realizing the danger, Okiror began sending distress messages to Brigadier Asiimwe. When the vehicles reached Buddo Junction, Okiror managed to regain control of his pistol, resulting in a violent confrontation. Okiror fired shots, killing one of the assailants, while the others fled.

Tragically, a stray bullet during the skirmish struck Nalumansi, resulting in her death at the scene. Okiror has since recorded statements and is currently being held for further investigation. Eyewitness statements have also been collected by the police to aid in the ongoing investigation.