Police commander who shot UCU student detained

MUKONO, UGANDA: Mukono Counter-Terrorism Police Commander, ASP Dismas Tebangole who allegedly shot and injured a student of Uganda Christian University on Saturday morning is currently in police custody on charges of attempted murder.

Tebangole 57, admitted to having shot and injured 21-year-old Natasha Nagayi at Nabuti village, Mukono Central Division whom he suspected to be a thief trying to break into his house early in the morning.

“I heard someone attempting to open my main door using a key. I peeped through the window glass and I saw a person opening my door with a key. I wasn’t excepting anyone. I became suspicious and I discharged three bullets through the window glass,” ASP Tebangole told Police on Saturday morning.

The Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson, ASP Luke Owoyesigyire said in a statement that Nagayi was injured on the right chest near the lower armpit after she reportedly fell down and cried for help while pleading that she was not a thief.

“Those who responded to her call for help said she told them that she was a girlfriend to one Ashiraf Bandishe, also a tenant who shared a block with Tebangole,” said Owoyesigyire.

Among those that responded is Hanington Ssengendo, the caretaker of the residence along with other neighbors.

Witnesses said Bandishe confirmed to them that he had given his house keys to Nagayi to have a rest. Nagayi however mistakenly tried to open Tebangole’s door instead of opening the opposite one where Bandishe resides.

Owoyesigyire said police arrived at the scene on Saturday morning and retrieved Tebangole’s pistol which was discovered picked with 12 bullets, and also took the commander for interrogation at Mukono Central Police.

“We have been told that she mistakenly attempted to open the suspect’s room, which is opposite Ashiraf’s room, leading to the unfortunate shooting incident. To preserve the integrity of the crime scene, initial steps were taken by the first responders. A pistol with 12 rounds of live ammunition, was recovered from the suspect by the response police team,” he said.

Nagayi was transported in critical condition to Kawolo Hospital for immediate medical attention. Police are currently conducting investigations to gather all pertinent details. In the last two weeks, gun violence has dominated the headlines.

Since the start of this month, a minister, a money lender, a UPDF soldier and four private security guards have died by use of a gun. However, some have killed themselves while others have been shot dead.