Locals demand relocation of Bondo baracks over shootings

Arua, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Etori clan members in Etori village, Arivu sub-county in Arua district want the government to relocate Bondo military barracks over the rampant shootings of civilians. Their demand follows the death of Philliam Shida, a teenager who was shot dead by a UPDF officer only identified as Corporal Okwi from Bondo military barracks on Sunday.

Preliminary reports indicate that the soldier opened fire at his victim after he declined to buy him alcohol using his own money at Bondo trading center. While presenting their petition to Arua Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Ham Ezama Muzamil, Stanislaus Bileni, who represented the community explained that the presence of the barracks is a source of insecurity to them since they have lost at least four people over the past four years through shootings by the soldiers.

He asked the government to find alternative land to settle them since they cannot continue to coexist with the soldiers or relocate the barracks. “Because of this barracks, we don’t sleep. We are insecure. We thought the UPDF are supposed to protect us not kill us. We have resolved that we don’t want the barracks in our area. This land for the barracks was given free by us,” he noted.

Cosmas Ayikobua, the Arua district vice chairperson notes that since the barracks was opened in 1971 by former president Iddi Amin, the community has been coexisting well with soldiers not until 2018 when the unfortunate shooting of civilians began. He appealed to the UPDF leadership to get to the root of the matter such that there are no more civilian deaths due to shootings.

Luiji Candini, the Arivu sub-county LCV councilor said that there is a lot of apprehension in the local community due to the past shooting of innocent civilians in the area. He also advised the UPDF leadership to ensure that justice is served to the bereaved family.

Lt Colonel Francis Odikiro, the commander of the 57 battalion in Zombo district has condemned the act of one of their own, noting that the UPDF is a pro-people and disciplined force. He noted that the mandate of the UPDF is to protect civilians but not to kill them.

In 2018, a soldier from Bondo Military barracks killed himself after shooting two civilians dead and injuring another at Bondo trading center.

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