KAMPALA, July 22 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military on Sunday said three of its soldiers were killed by angry mob at the common border with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), a spokesperson said here.
Brig. Richard Karemire, Uganda's military spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that an angry mob from the two neighboring countries killed the soldiers attached to Vurra customs army detach in the northwestern district of Arua, which borders DRC on suspicion of being armed robbers on Saturday night.
"It's true there was an incident last night in Vurra. Three UPDF (Uganda People's Defenses Forces) died," said Karemire.
"Investigations into the incident have started to ascertain the circumstances surrounding their deaths," he said.
Josephine Angucia, the West Nile regional police spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone from Arua that the police have arrested eight suspects to help in the investigations.
"That place has been common with robberies. One boda boda (commercial motorcyclist) cyclist made an alarm on suspicion that the soldiers were robbers. The alarm attracted people from sides of the border who mistook them as robbers," said Angucia.
"They forced the soldiers to surrender their guns and beat them to death. We condemn acts of mob justice. It's wrong and against the law. They should have alerted the police or called in authorities instead of taking the law into their hands," she said.
The bodies of the deceased soldiers have been taken to Arua Regional Referral Hospital for a post mortem.
