A 12-year-old girl has been shot dead by police in Butaleja district, eastern Uganda. Esther Nemwa, daughter of Fred Mulesa was shot dead Sunday in Namuselu village while buying chappati by what police insists was a stray bullet.
The deceased's uncle, Tony Wasaba, says they have been hearing about such incidents of police highhandedness and recklessness and it's sad that now it has arrived in their own family.
Butaleja resident district commissioner, Stanley Bayoole said that the shooting was prompted by unruly and rowdy traders who were adamant about the 7 pm curfew time. He says that rowdy residents pelted police officers with stones prompting them to open fire.
"Yes, the shooting was there but it was really a stray bullet caused by police officers who had gone to enforce curfew. They went to tell people to go home and people started abusing and pelting stones at officers. He wanted to maybe shoot in the air, incidentally, a stray bullet went and caught a girl who died on the spot and another one who was injured. The police officer, we shall charge him with heavy penalties but also we want to urge people because this is not the first time they are attacking police officers...Yesterday was the third round," said Bayoole.
The deceased's uncle, Tony Wasaba, says they have been hearing about such incidents of police highhandedness and recklessness and it's sad that now it has arrived in their own family.
Butaleja resident district commissioner, Stanley Bayoole said that the shooting was prompted by unruly and rowdy traders who were adamant about the 7 pm curfew time. He says that rowdy residents pelted police officers with stones prompting them to open fire.
"Yes, the shooting was there but it was really a stray bullet caused by police officers who had gone to enforce curfew. They went to tell people to go home and people started abusing and pelting stones at officers. He wanted to maybe shoot in the air, incidentally, a stray bullet went and caught a girl who died on the spot and another one who was injured. The police officer, we shall charge him with heavy penalties but also we want to urge people because this is not the first time they are attacking police officers...Yesterday was the third round," said Bayoole.
Moses Mugwe, the Bukedi South Region police commander identified the officer who shot the teenager as Anthony Ocaya, saying that he has been arrested and charged with reckless actions as investigations continue.
He revealed that it has become common for people in the district to attack police officers on duty, citing a recent incident in Busolwe town council where residents assaulted a police officer who was enforcing the presidential guidelines on Covid-19.
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