Summary:
- Lt Ariho, attached to the UPDF Engineering Brigade, allegedly drove his Toyota Fielder (registration number UBJ 493Q) to Nsimbe-Nakirebe Playground in Mpigi District on Thursday, where he shot himself dead using an SMG rifle in the presence of six individuals playing football.
KAMPALA: The Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), Gen Muhoozi Kainerugaba, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Uganda Peoples Defence Forces (UPDF) officer Lt Amos Ariho, who reportedly committed suicide.
Lt Ariho, attached to the UPDF Engineering Brigade, allegedly drove his Toyota Fielder (registration number UBJ 493Q) to Nsimbe-Nakirebe Playground in Mpigi District on Thursday, where he shot himself dead using an SMG rifle in the presence of six individuals playing football.
Responding to the incident on X (formerly Twitter), Gen Kainerugaba, who is also the First Son, linked Lt Ariho’s death to corruption within the UPDF, which he said has been a recurring issue he and President Museveni have often addressed.
“Lt Ariho’s blood will be avenged, and the thieves will pay,” Gen Kainerugaba wrote.
Lt Ariho’s Final Message:
Before taking his life, Lt Ariho, a resident of Kibanda Parish, Kamwezi Sub-county, Rukiga District, left a note addressed to Gen Kainerugaba, urging him to visit the Engineering Brigade and address its challenges.
“I joined the Army in 2013, did basic training, and later cadet training. I have been serving at the rank of Lieutenant. As I leave, these are the issues to discuss,” Lt Ariho wrote.
He accused Maj Ogwang, a senior officer in the Engineering Brigade, of misconduct and mismanagement. “Maj Ogwang is the cause of my death. After his deployment in the brigade, he dismissed every engineer working in the central region,” Lt Ariho alleged.
He cited an example of projects like Gombe Hospital in Butambala District, where he claimed Maj Ogwang mismanaged resources, including blocks worth UGX 100 million that had been strategically prepared by the previous leadership.
“Ogwang did not even manage to pay the debts he found, and they are the ones consuming us now,” Lt Ariho stated.
The note also highlighted harmful propaganda and selfish interests within the institution. “Dear CDF, harmful propaganda and selfish interests will make you hate and abandon good people while promoting the wrong elements. Please come to the ground and make proper changes.”
Lt Ariho concluded by requesting the CDF to ensure his body is taken to his home in Rukiga District and appealed for the welfare of his children.
Brigadier General Felix Kulayigye, the UPDF Director of Public Information, described the incident as regrettable and assured the public that investigations are underway.
“This is very regrettable, given the fact that there are established channels to handle individual and collective challenges in the institution,” Brig Kulayigye said, emphasizing the importance of seeking professional and administrative help.
He added: “The UPDF will carry out a thorough investigation, and whoever is found culpable will be brought to book.”
The UPDF has also encouraged personnel to utilize the institution’s structures to address challenges, recognizing that individuals handle pressures differently.
Lt Ariho’s death has sparked widespread discussion about mental health, corruption, and structural inefficiencies within the UPDF.
