Private Wilson Sabiiti murdered the State Minister for Labour Rtd Col. Charles Engola Okello in cold blood at his residence in Kyanga , Nakawa Division.
Sabiiti fired several bullets at his boss, killing him on the spot, he also wounded an ADC to the Minister identified as Lt Ronald Otim before proceeding to the trading center on Wakiso ring road while firing several bullets in the air.
Otim is currently receiving treatment at Mulago Hospital.
He later walked into Shamo Unisex saloon neighbouring a stationary shop where he further ordered all the occupants to vacate the place before shooting himself dead.
Locals who witnessed the incident alleged that the deceased body guard yelled publicly before his death that he had gone several months with no pay and was earning pennies while his boss enjoyed a lavish lifestyle.
” I don’t want any civilian in my way’ ‘ I haven’t been paid for the past four years, they pay me little money and my children are suffering in the village” He allegedly said moments before taking his own life
The Minister of Gender Betty Amongi said on Tuesday that the bodyguard had only been deployed to guard the Minister a month ago. She asked the public not to speculate as to why Sabiiti killed himself but give UPDF, Police and other security agencies time to investigate.
Col Deo Akiiki, the Deputy UPDF spokesperson dismissed the allegations that UPDF officers are not paid in time or receive meager salaries.
“All of us(soldiers) get our salaries by the 27th of each month and I have facts, I can show you that my bank received that money and every soldier received his pay because we don’t segregate. So the issue of pay cannot come into play.As you are aware our salaries were enhanced and it is being enhanced to include others who have not got their pay ” he said
Adding that: “And we have been paid much much lesser before than we are getting today and I don’t think that could be the reason he did what he did, ”
Akiiki, says Sabiti was a well-trained and thoroughly vetted soldier, the reason he was deployed to guard a minister.
“Soldiers, who are deployed to guard high profile people are vetted before they are attached to them,” Col Akiiki added
He further explained that Sabiti had until recently been deployed as the primary bodyguard of the minister until Monday when he was switched to become a principal guard, travelling in the lead car. He says the UPDF is working closely with other security agencies to establish the exact motive of the incident and produce a comprehensive report.
Both the military and police said they are still investigating the motive of the shooting.
It has since been established hat prior to his most recent deployment, Pte Sabiiti was first rejected by Ft Capt Mike Mukula’s rep as a body guard because the team leader noticed his indiscipline.
Ft Capt Mukula has also confirmed that Pte Sabiiti was indeed undisciplined.
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