A Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) soldier, Private Jacob Amali, 26, has been arrested for allegedly shooting and killing his friend, Haggai Okullo, 25, following a dispute over a woman at a bar in Kidilani trading center, Apac District.
The incident reportedly occurred after Amali and Okullo, who had been drinking with friends at a local bar called “Acan pe Nino,” got into a physical altercation over a woman, Winnie Auma. Following the fight, Amali left the bar but later returned around 4 a.m. armed with a gun, allegedly shooting Okullo.
Amali, attached to the 103 Battalion in Lacekocot detach in Pader District, is accused of leaving his duty station on January 7, 2025, and traveling to his home in Kwoyo village, Kidilani parish, Chegere Sub-county. While UPDF officials maintain that Amali officially left his post and deposited his firearm with the unit armorer, the weapon used in the shooting is believed to have been sourced illegally. Authorities are investigating the presence of unauthorized firearms in the area.
The police have also detained two other individuals, Olila and Winnie Auma, to assist with the investigation. The body of the deceased has been transported to Apac Main Hospital for a postmortem examination.
The incident marks the second murder by shooting in Apac District within a week. Police are urging residents to remain calm and cooperate with ongoing investigations. Amali was previously released from Kinene Prison in Pader District in September 2024, where he had served time on charges of assaulting his commander.
