UPDF soldier behind minister's death, served in AU mission in Somalia

MOGADISHU, Somalia - A soldier who killed a top Ugandan minister last week before ending his own life served in African Union Mission in Somalia [AMISOM] now referred to as African Union Transition Mission in Somalia [ATMIS], it has emerged, raising questions about the mental stability of troops serving in foreign missions.

Private Wilson Sabiti killed his boss Charles Okello Engola, who was serving as the country's Minister of State for Labour and Industrial Relations in Uganda's capital Kampala before ending his life instantly. He had also injured the minister's deputy Ronald Otim according to security forces.

The issue of mental health on soldiers serving outside the country has been a major topic of discussion with another soldier serving in Somalia opening fire recently and killing three colleagues before he was arrested. Uganda has close to 4,500 soldiers serving in ATMIS.

Sabiti, a 33-year-old Mubali village native, joined the army in 2007 after his family could no longer afford tuition. As the primary provider for his family since his father's 2016 death, Sabiti supported his four children, two of his uncle's children, and additional family members. He had been struggling financially and had previously separated from his two wives.

Records show that Sabiti served in Somalia from 2020 to 2021 as provided in rotational doctrines. He was picked for the middle-level officer course which he completed in February before returning to Guards Brigade where he was picked to protect the minister.

According to the Monitor, Col. Deo Akiiki, the deputy spokesperson of the Ministry of Defense, acknowledged the need for more mental health examinations of soldiers returning from war zones to avoid similar incidents in the future.

"We have a department under the Directorate General of Health Services, which provides advice and guidance. But yes, we must do more to ensure the health of our soldiers who return from war zones to avoid such regrettable actions," he said.

The incident comes just days after Uganda hosted Troops Contributing Countries [TCCs] in Kampala where the withdrawal of forces was discussed. The ATMIS team would start withdrawing gradually from June 2023 but Somalia has made local arrangements with Kenya, Ethiopia, and Djibouti which would see the deployment of non-ATMIS troops.

Soldiers serving in the mission have exclusive access to guidance and counseling services but it is not clear whether they find time to visit or not. Somalia has been battling the militants for the last 16 years and it is anticipated that by the end of 2024, the mission would have met its objectives.

GAROWE ONLINE