A special police constable attached to Jaguzi police station in Mayuge district is nursing bullets wounds in the chest after being hit by a stray bullet during a police operation.
Bakali Ponde, who recently got recruited to boost police to man the general elections, was hit on Tuesday night as police attempted to enforce coronavirus (COVID-19) guidelines.
It alleged that Ponde was deployed with other police officers to enforce COVID-19 guidelines at Kaziru village Jaguzi sub county in Mayuge district following complaints that politicians were holding political meetings in bars during curfew hours.
During night patrol, police officers cordoned off Ghetto bar and cinema hall at around 11:00 pm where approximately 400 people were found drinking alcohol and merrymaking in total disregard of the standard operating procedures issued by the Health ministry to contain the spread of COVID-19.
Emmy Mitala, the Mayuge resident district commissioner, says the security officers attempted to disperse the revellers peacefully but they switched off power and started pelting them with stones. According to Mitala, the officers retaliated by firing live ammunition in the air but a stray bullet hit Ponde in the chest.
Ponde was rushed to Jinja regional referral hospital where he later got referred to Mulago Specialised National Referral hospital on Wednesday afternoon. James Mubi, the Busoga East police spokesperson, says police authorities are coordinating with Ponde's family to ensure that he receives quality treatment.
He also reveals that a civilian only identified as Opio sustained bullet wounds in the skirmishes but has since fled into hiding.
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