The Chief of the Defense Forces (CDF), Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba has vowed to unearth and crush the corrupt culprits who are finding refuge in the Uganda Peoples’ Defense Forces (UPDF).
Gen. Muhoozi says due to such culprits in the UPDF and other government agencies, Uganda lost a promising junior officer, Lt. Amon Ariho who claimed his own life by shooting after alleged work-related challenges.
The UPDF spokesperson, Brigadier General Felix Kulaigye said that by the time of his death, RO/13999 Lt. Ariho Amon had been attached to the Engineering Brigade.
Ariho is said to have driven his private car, UBJ 493Q, parked it in a playground at Nakirebe village in Mpigi district and used his own SMG gun to shoot himself in the head. The incident happened on January 1, 2025 at around 2:00pm.
In a statement pinned on Gen. Muhoozi’s X handle addressing this incident, he said he was saddened by Ariho’s suicide.
He however said Ariho died just because of the corruption President Museveni and him (Muhoozi) have been talking about for a long time.
He vowed that his blood will be avenged and the thieves will have to pay for their actions.
“I am personally hurt by the suicide of our young officer… Lt. Ariho. He died because of the corruption Mzee and I have been talking about for a long time now. His blood will be avenged and the thieves will pay,” the message reads.
Ariho allegedly left behind a note showing the reasons which triggered his suicide.
The note which he addressed to the CDF in details reads;
“UPDF FAMILY. Dear CDF I want to thank you for the good leadership and may God continue blessing you. Let me hope this message finds you well.
Kindly visit the Engineers’ brigade and revise some things. I joined the Army in 2013 and did basic training, I also became a cadet there after a few years and currently have been serving at a rank of Lieutenant. As I leave, these are the issues to discuss.
- Eng. Ogwang is the cause of my death.
“After being deployed in the Engineers’ brigade he chased every engineer who was working with in the Central region, not even working with that engineer for even a day.
Truck the record of works done by us before Maj. ogwang. Like I for one visit Mpigi district, and Butambala. Specifically, in Butambala look at Gombe hospital. Dear CDF Maj Ogwanga found blocks already made in Gombe worth sh100m and claimed that we were thieves because we made blocks for selling.
He is just selfish, he did not know that the former leader was strategic and would plan for the future. Maj. Ogwanga did not buy any block in Gomba district because he found a soft landing.
Ogwanga did not even manage to pay the debts he found in place.
- Dear CDF, harmful propaganda and selfish interests will make you hate and abandon good people and pull up wrong elements.
Sir, get on ground and make proper investigations before making changes.
- Lt. Amon Ariho RO/13999 am leaving, please kindly in deep sadness come and take my body home. Rukiga district Kamwezi Kibanda Katungu.
- CDF sir, I request you to take good care of my children that I have left behind because now their father is no more.”
Soldiers from the nearby detach and police rushed to the scene of crime and cordoned it off, his phone and document were recovered from his car.
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The body was taken to Mulago City mortuary whereas his gun and car were taken to Mpigi Police.
UPDF spokesperson Kulayigye said they had launched the investigations to ascertain the root cause of Ariho’s suicide and the reasons he allegedly left behind in a note claiming they are the ones that prompted him to claim his own life.