Risdel Kasasira
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
advertisements
Kampala, Uganda (Daily Monitor) - He survived enemy fire in deadly battles with Islamist fundamentalists during six-months of peacekeeping in war-stricken Somali capital, Mogadishu. But after successfully accomplishing this hair-raising operation, Patrick Kaijamurubi from Masindi was later to be killed by a stray bullet from a colleague who had aimed at a demonstrator on Kampala streets.
Although Army Spokesperson Felix Kulayigye said he was not aware that Kaijamurubi had been in Somalia, his brother Joseph Mutunzi said the deceased returned from Mogadishu in December last year.
Lt. Col. Kulayigye said a stray bullet killed Kaijamurubi on Thursday morning while repairing a punctured tyre of their vehicle in Ndeeba, where the army was battling rioters. He described the demise of Kaijamurubi, who was attached to the Military Police, as an ugly incident. “It shows how ugly these riots are” Lt. Col. Kulayigye said. The family yesterday said they were still waiting for the body of their “brave son”, as Mr Mutunzi described him.
On the fateful day, Mr Mutunzi says his brother was planning to move to Masindi to see his relatives but was summoned for duty as violence besieged Kampala.
About three weeks ago, friends and relatives hosted Mr Kaijamurubi to a party congratulating him for having left Somalia alive. Little did they know that it was the last time they would see him alive. He left behind two kids and a widow.
Source: Daily Monitor, Sept 15, 2009