Kampala, Uganda: Police have launched investigations into circumstances under which a female motorist was allegedly shot and injured by a police officer near the residence of Speaker of Parliament, Rt Hon Anita Annet Among, along Mackinnon Road in Kampala.
The incident is reported to have occurred on Thursday, April 30, at around midday when the yet-to-be-identified woman was shot at while driving a Toyota Harrier registration number UBQ 038A near the high-security area.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala confirmed the shooting but said details surrounding the circumstances remain unclear. “It is true there was a shooting. She was driving a Toyota Harrier UBQ 038A. She was shot by a police officer. I don’t have all the details of the incident right now,” Ms Kawala said.
She added that the officer involved will be interrogated as investigations commence to establish what led to the use of a firearm.
The shooting occurred in a highly secured zone near the Speaker’s residence, an area typically under tight surveillance by security agencies.
Authorities have not yet indicated whether the shooting was linked to a security breach, a misunderstanding, or excessive use of force.
The victim was reportedly injured, although her condition had not been officially communicated by press time.
The incident comes amid growing scrutiny over the use of firearms by security personnel in urban settings, particularly around high-profile installations.
In December 2024, a 32-year-old truck driver, Julius Ssemwaka, was shot dead by a police officer after allegedly failing to give way to a convoy near State House Lodge, Nakasero in Kampala. The officer involved reportedly fled and has never been apprehended.
Earlier in April 2024, security forces under the Special Forces Command intercepted a motorist who attempted to force entry into the same State Lodge Nakasero, prompting officers to fire warning shots and disable the vehicle.
The recurrence of such incidents has raised concern among the public about rules of engagement, accountability, and proportional use of force by security personnel.
Ms Kawala said ongoing inquiries into the incident are ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to the shooting, whether standard operating procedures were followed and the conduct and actions of the officer involved.
She, however, did not confirm whether the implicated officer had been detained or disarmed pending investigations.
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