A soldier deployed to guard a construction site fatally shot his Indian supervisor on Friday before turning the gun on himself after expressing dissatisfaction over low pay, authorities reported.
Police registered a case of double murder, identifying the victim as 41-year-old Thirumalesh Itikala, who was shot by 38-year-old Private James Tolit Opio, a soldier from the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF).
The incident occurred at around 9:30 a.m. Itikala was the site engineer and manager of Royal Velko Joint Venture Ltd, residing at Mbiko Landing Site in Namasale Town Council, Amolatar District.
Opio, a soldier attached to Namasale Infantry Detach and assigned to guard the Royal Velko Joint Venture Ltd site, returned to work on October 1. After attending a local disco on October 3, he resumed duty on October 4 around 4 a.m. On Friday morning, he reportedly complained to fellow guards about inadequate pay.
Opio then approached Itikala’s office and shot him in the chest while the engineer was on the phone. Afterward, Opio walked about 50 meters from the site’s main gate and shot himself in the neck, dying instantly.
Itikala was rushed to Amolatar Health Center IV, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Police, led by the Amolatar District Police Commander, investigated the scene, documented evidence, and recorded statements from eyewitnesses.
Both bodies remained at Amolatar Health Center IV, awaiting postmortem as of Friday afternoon. Authorities expressed concern over the incident, urging supervisors to address staff grievances promptly.
Royal Velko Joint Venture Ltd had been contracted by the Ministry of Water and Environment to construct a Shs12 billion water pipe system in Namasale Town Council.