Chris Ocowun in Gulu
3 July 2008
Kampala — A SOLDIER of the Local Defence Unit (LDU) on Wednesday night shot dead six people and injured eight others during a fight over a woman in a discotheque at Omiya-Nyima IDP camp, 12km east of Kitgum town.
According to the Kitgum district Police Commander, Charles Ouma, the LDU, only identified as Opwonya, was dancing with a woman called Beatrice Atimango when he got into trouble with her boyfriend.
"The soldier rushed back to his home, picked his gun and returned. He fired indiscriminately at the people in the hall," said Ouma.
In the panic that followed, a civilian only known as Tabu grabbed the gun of a drunken Special Police Constable (SPC) and fired six bullets while running out of the hall.
He dumped the gun in a pit latrine, where it was recovered by the Police. Tabu, who is currently in Police custody, said he acted in self-defence as he was trying to scramble to safety.
Three SPCs, who were in the hall at the time of the incident, were arrested and charged with offences ranging from visiting a discotheque while on duty, being drunk and losing a gun.
A total of 34 cartridges were recovered from the scene, according to the Police, some 25 fired by the LDU.
"The soldier is currently on the run and we are hunting for him," Ouma added.
He explained that three victims died on the spot while three died later in the hospital.
The Police officer in charge of Omiya-Nyima out-post, Richard Onen, identified five of the dead as David Orach, David Opira, Vincent Omwony, Ismail Okello and Obina Toolit, all from the area.
The injured were rushed to Kitgum Hospital, while others were referred to Kitgum mission hospital and St. Joseph Hospital.
Deputy RDC Sylvester Opira travelled to the camp to meet the bereaved families and brief the residents about the actions so far taken by the Government and the Police.
The local leaders condemned the act and called for immediate prosecution of the culprit.
(Additional reporting by Chris Kiwawulo)
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