Soldier Kills Indian Engineer, Commits Suicide in Amolatar

(Amolatar) – A tragic incident occurred in Amolatar district on Friday, October 4, 2024, when a Uganda Peoples Defence Force (UPDF) soldier shot and killed an Indian national before taking his own life. The soldier, identified as Private James Tolit Opio, reportedly confronted Thirumalesh Itikala, a 41 year old site engineer and manager at Royal Velko Joint Venture Ltd, before fatally shooting him.

The event unfolded in Mbiko Cell, Aweipeko Ward, Namasale Town Council, at around 9:30 a.m. Itikala, who lived at the Mbiko landing site in Namasale Town Council, was rushed to Amolatar Health Center IV but was declared dead upon arrival.

Rembo Ongu, the Local Council (LC3) chairperson of Namasale Town Council, provided details of the incident. Ongu identified Private Tolit Opio, 38, who had previously been stationed at Namasale Infantry Detach. According to Ongu, the soldier had deserted his post, citing dissatisfaction with the quality of food provided. It was also reported that he had recently been replaced as the commander of the guard unit, which could have contributed to his distress.

Unconfirmed sources suggest that Tolit Opio’s frustration over his replacement might have fueled the violent encounter. Ongu explained that the soldier had been searching for his successor when he encountered Itikala. In an attempt to calm the situation, Itikala reportedly asked the soldier what was wrong. Instead of responding, the soldier stepped back, cocked his gun, and shot the engineer twice. He then fired multiple shots into the air before turning the gun on himself, dying at the scene.

North Kyoga Region Police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema released a statement confirming the soldier’s deployment at the Royal Velko Joint Venture Ltd site. Okema noted that the soldier had left his post earlier but returned to duty on October 1, 2024. On October 3, he allegedly went to a disco at a nearby trading center and returned to the site early the next morning at around 4:00 a.m.

On the morning of the incident, Tolit Opio reported for duty at 9:00 a.m., expressing grievances to his fellow guards about deductions from his pay. Shortly after, at around 9:30 a.m., he encountered Itikala, who was on a phone call outside his office. Tolit Opio shot the engineer in the chest and then left the site, walking about 50 meters before shooting himself in the neck. He died instantly.

The crime scene was quickly attended to by a team of police officers led by the District Police Commander (DPC) of Amolatar. The area was examined, and evidence was documented. Statements were taken from witnesses to aid in the investigation.

Both bodies were taken to Amolatar Health Center IV, where post-mortem examinations are pending.

Table: Key Details of the Incident