The remains of Lt. Amon Ariho, a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer who tragically took his own life last Wednesday, were interred at his ancestral home in Mwanjari Cell, Kibanda Parish, Kamwezi Sub-county, Rukiga District.
Lt. Ariho, who served under the Engineering Brigade, reportedly drove to Nakirebe, a location between Wakiso and Mpigi districts, where he ended his life by shooting himself in the head. He was driving a black car with registration number UBJ 493Q at the time. Witnesses reported that before the incident, he stopped his car at a football field, chased away the players, and then committed suicide.
The burial ceremony was marked by deep sorrow and lacked the usual military honors accorded to UPDF personnel. The absence of official military protocols was attributed to the nature of Ariho’s death, which violated military regulations. Instead, his body was transported to the grave by a private funeral service, bypassing traditional Christian burial rites.
Religious leaders refrained from conducting hymns or prayers, and the burial proceeded directly to the grave. Family members, friends, and local leaders later delivered emotional speeches, expressing their grief and shock over the tragic loss.
Violet Nakyi, Ariho’s first wife and a fellow UPDF officer, revealed that her late husband had been grappling with intense work-related stress. Speaking on behalf of the family, Nakyi appealed to the government for clemency in processing Ariho’s pension to provide for his four wives and children.
“Despite his violation of military law, we appeal for forgiveness so his pension can support the family he left behind,” Nakyi implored.
Col. Milton Katarinyeba, a relative and mentor to Ariho, acknowledged the gravity of the deceased’s actions but vowed to advocate for the welfare of his young children. He called for an introspective review of the pressures faced by military personnel to prevent future tragedies.
Local leaders, including Zadock Kamusiime and Mbabazi Robert Kakwerere, urged UPDF authorities to investigate the circumstances leading to Ariho’s death. They emphasized the importance of addressing mental health challenges among security officers to preserve the image and morale of the national army.
Ariho’s death adds to a troubling trend of suicide cases among security personnel in Uganda. In 2022 alone, 13 police officers and four soldiers reportedly took their own lives, underscoring the urgent need for enhanced mental health support within the forces.
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