MUKONO, UGANDA: Police in Mukono is investigating how a 21-year-old student at Uganda Christian University (UCU) in Mukono was shot by a police officer in the latest wave of gun violence that has gripped the country.
Natasha Nagayi who is currently nursing wounds at Kawolo General Hospital was shot by ASP Dismas Tebangole, attached to the Counter Terrorism Police, VIPPU after she attempted to open the officer’s house mistaking it to be that of her boyfriend.
The shooting happened at around 1 am in Nabuti Village, Mukono Central Division when ASP Tebangole noticed someone attempting to open his main door and on peeping through the window glass, she saw a person using a key to open the door.
“In a state of suspicion, the officer discharged three live bullets through the window glass, hitting Nagayi Natasha on the right chest, near the lower armpit. Upon being shot, the victim fell to the ground and cried out for help, asserting that she was not a thief,” ASP Luke Owoyesigyire, the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson said in a Saturday statement.
He added that when the victim “specifically mentioned the name Bandishe Ashiraf, one of the tenants residing in the suspect’s residence,” and in the process, the caretaker of the residence, Ssengendo Hanington, along with other neighbours, responded to the scene.
Further reports indicate that Nagayi had been accompanied by her boyfriend, Ashiraf Bandishe as they returned from hanging out but he gave her the key to reach home first while he stayed behind.
“Ashiraf had given her the key to enter the residence and rest while he remained behind. However, she mistakenly attempted to open the officer’s room, which is opposite Ashiraf’s room, leading to the unfortunate shooting incident,” ASP Owoyesgyire said.
The KMP Deputy PRO confirmed that the officer (ASP Tebangole) has been arrested and is currently in police custody while “A pistol with 12 rounds of live ammunition, was recovered from the suspect by the response Police team.”
The development comes barely a day after another officer; Police Constable Charles Opio, attached to the Field Force Unit (FFU) Mbarara, last evening shot and killed Corporal Paper Yeremiah, a UPDF officer attached to Ruhengyere Engineering Brigade.
On Thursday, a security guard shot himself dead at Mukwasi House in Nakasero, Kampala.
A few days earlier, a private security guard identified as Peter Ochoroi, 26, shot his workmate dead in Kalule Zone, Lukuli Parish, Makindye Division, Kampala District.
This past weekend, a security guard in Wandegeya opened fire at a motorist who was trying to escape from an accident scene, injuring a shopkeeper identified as Geoffrey Mwesigwa.
Last week, another policeman PC Ivan Wabwire shot and killed an Indian money lender Uttam Bhandari, the Director of TFS Financial Services at Rajja Chambers in Kampala over a loan dispute.
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