UPDF Soldier Commits Suicide on Easter Sunday

A man in Nyakayojo sub-county, Mbarara known to be a Uganda People’s Defence (UPDF) soldier surprised many by committing suicide on Easter Sunday.

The body of Vincent Rutaro number 2470 was found dangling from a rope inside his rented house in Nyakayojo Sub County on Easter Sunday.

Daniel Bakiga, one of the residents, claims that Rutaro first had a fight with his wife Edith Koburunga on Easter eve. Koburunga had demanded for money to go for Easter shopping.

Abbey Ngako, the O.C Mbarara central police station, said that Rutaro’s body was found dressed in army uniform though the local leaders were not aware that the deceased was a serving soldier.

Ngako says police has since been informed that Rutaro had come to the area and started working as a herdsman at one of the farms in Nyakayojo for few months.

Police later took Rutaro’s body to Mbarara regional referral Hospital mortuary for postmortem before handing it over to the relatives in Nyamukana, Ntungamo district, for burial.

Ngako says they have arrested Edith Koburunga to help in investigations into the death of her husband.

Major Ronald Kakurungu, the UPDF spokesperson 2nd division, says photos discovered in the deceased’s album indicate he may have been a soldier. The army is trying to verify when he joined and left the army before issuing a formal statement.