A soldier from the elite Special Forces Command (SFC) is being pursued by security agencies after allegedly torturing his nephew to death in Amolatar District following a domestic dispute.
The suspect, whose identity is being withheld, is accused of tying Luke Obia, a 25-year-old resident of Inomo Ward in Amolatar Town Council, to a tree and fatally beating him at the soldier’s residence on Sunday night.
The tragic incident began when the deceased got into an argument with one of his uncles at a drinking joint on the outskirts of Amolatar Town. When the soldier returned from buying drugs at a nearby clinic and saw the altercation, he attempted to intervene, leading to a physical altercation in which Obia was severely injured.
Disturbingly, upon returning home, Obia redirected his anger towards his two young daughters, assaulting them for not bringing the goats home. Upon hearing about the children’s mistreatment, the soldier dispatched a group of energetic youth to bring Obia back for disciplinary measures. Unfortunately, this escalated into a violent situation, with Obia being tied to a tree and mercilessly beaten until he fell into a coma. By the time the local clan chief, Moses Oruk, returned, Obia had already passed away.
The authorities were informed of the incident, and five people, including the father of the deceased, were taken into custody at Amolatar Central Police Station. Meanwhile, the soldier, who is attached to Nakasongola Barracks, fled the scene. Efforts to locate him are ongoing, and the Resident District Commissioner (RDC) of Amolatar District, Mr. Francis Odoki Okello, confirmed the investigation is underway.
The UPDF 5th Infantry Division spokesperson, Maj Stephen Tumwesigye, stated that investigations have begun, and they are actively searching for the suspect. If found guilty, the soldier will be arrested and face legal consequences for violating the UPDF code of conduct and failing to fulfill their constitutional duty of protecting Ugandans and their property.
Despite the tragedy, some family members are considering forgiveness, as both the offender and the deceased are relatives. However, the pursuit of justice remains a priority for the authorities involved in the investigation.