Uganda’s national army has spoken out on an attack on UPDF soldiers who were on guard duties in Jinja. The attack happened at a road leading to the Gadaffi Barracks at about 08:50pm on the evening of Thursday, November 18, 2022.
UPDF spokesperson Brig Gen Felix Kulayigye said two officers were on guard on the fateful evening but one, identified as L/Cpl Norico Kibirige, had gone to buy something to drink when the attack happened. In the raid Sergeant (Sgt) Simon Peter Eyagu, who was attached to the Gadaffi Barracks Jinja Cantonment, was killed by the attackers.
“Last evening an Attack occurred on our Soldiers guarding at Ambercourt road close to Gadaffi barracks at 2050hrs leading to the death by strangling and shooting of RA/110575 Sgt Eyagu Simon Peter a UPDF soldier attached to Gadaffi Barracks JINJA Cantonment while his colleague had gone to buy some drink,” said Brig Gen Kulayigye.
“Sgt Eyagu was deployed together with L/Cpl Kibirige Norico to guard a small gate of Ambercourt road, with in the perimeter of Gadaffi barracks.”
The army spokesperson also confirmed that two SMG guns were stolen. He said the attackers will be hunted for and arrested so that they can answer for their sins. At least two people have been arrested in connection with the raid.
“In this attack two weapons SMG guns were taken and all efforts are underway to recover them. The attack on our guards will meet the necessary retaliation. We are working closely with the UPF and other security agencies to apprehend the criminals. Two suspects have so far been arrested and we have leads to apprehend the entire group,” said Kulayigye.
“Jinja residents and Ugandans are called upon to remain calm as these acts of criminality shall be dealt with decisively like we have dealt with many others before. The UPDF family condoles with the family of the late Sgt Eyagu Simon whose life has been lost while guarding other Ugandans to go about their lives peacefully.”
The attack on Gadaffi Jinja barracks happened a few weeks after unknown people attacked Busiika Police Station, killed two police officers and went away with guns, as well as a few days after an attack at a Kyanja Police Post. (See Details Here and There).
Police has since started closing some police post and withdrawing its officers. Meanwhile, deputy police chief Maj Gen Geoffrey Katsigazi Tumusiime has revealed that security operatives know the people behind the Busiika attack and that they should surrender or wait to be killed. (Details are Here and There).
It should also be remembered that CMI operatives arrested 10 members of former minister and NRA bush war hero Hajj Abdul Nadduli’s family following the Busiika attack after security got intelligence reports that these people had taken part in the raid and were hiding guns stolen from Busiika. However, in a shocking twist of events it emerged that a Nadduli family member had given CMI operatives wrong information so that they could release him. (Read Details Here and There).
