Kisoro District is in shock after a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier reportedly took his own life following a football match. The soldier, Private Samuel Kwesiga, 32, who served in the 35th Battalion at Nyanamo Detach, was found dead in his unipot on the morning of Monday, August 18. His body was discovered in Kigyeyo Village, Nyanamo Town Council, lying in a pool of blood with a gunshot wound.
Reports indicate that on Sunday evening, August 17, Kwesiga went to Nyanamo Trading Centre to watch the eagerly awaited English Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal. After the game, he returned to the detach, told his colleagues he was tired, and went into his unipot to rest. Soon after, a gunshot was heard by nearby residents. Initially thought to be an accident, the situation turned tragic when fellow soldiers checked on him and saw him lying in blood through the window. The door had to be forced open, confirming that he had shot himself.
Police, led by Kigezi Region spokesperson Elly Maate, arrived at the scene to document the incident. They collected witness statements and recovered a spent cartridge and a rifle with four magazines. Kwesiga’s body was taken to Kisoro Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination before being handed over to the UPDF command for burial arrangements. Authorities are still investigating to understand the reasons behind this heartbreaking act.
The sudden death has left the community and his colleagues in deep sorrow. Many are asking why a young soldier would take his life after what appeared to be a normal evening of enjoying football. This tragedy serves as a reminder of the hidden struggles some people face, even during ordinary moments, and the importance of looking out for one another.
