Guard kills man over Shs20, 000 debt

The body of Baraka Mugabi being bundled on a police truck as residents look on. Photo by Denis Edema

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This comes barely a week after another private security guard in Kampala shot and killed two people

Police in Jinja are investigating a case in which a private security guard allegedly shot and killed a man over a Shs20,000 debt.
The guard reportedly owed Baraka Mugabi(the deceased) Shs20, 000 for a radio he had sold to him. The district police commander, Mr Apollo Kateba, confirmed the incident, adding that the guard was arrested and his gun recovered as investigations into the incident continue.
Mugabi, a 20 year old casual labourer /porter and resident of Jinja was shot and killed at Hared Petroleum Ltd, along Main Street by the suspect who had been deployed to secure the premises.

The deceased had over the weekend gone to demand for his money from the guard before the two ended up in a disagreement and the alleged shooting.

An eye witness, Mr Yusuf Magomu told police that he heard the deceased and the guard arguing before the shooting.
“I heard the two quarreling inside the house and all of a sudden I heard gunshots. Before I could rash to see what happened the guard came running saying he had killed someone. I rashed to the police and reported the matter but the victim had already died by the time police arrived,” said Mr Magomu.
There were also other unconfirmed reports that the two had been smoking marijuana prior to the incident. Police recovered a bundle of marijuana and matchbox in the deceased `s pocket.

The body of the deceased was taken to Jinja referral hospital for postmortem before it could be given to the relatives for burial.

Residents look on as Baraka Mugabi's body lies in a pool of blood shortly after he was shot. Photo by Denis Edema


However, Mr Kateeba said the suspect will be arraigned in court and charged with murder.
This comes barely a week after another private security guard in Kampala shot and killed two people.
One person was shot dead around William Street at Bamako Guest House when a security guard at Diamond Trust Bank ATM machine shot at an unidentified woman who had allegedly refused to pay money for parking.
Another incident happened at Shamba complex on Kyagwe Road in
Central Division Kampala at around 6am when a private security guard shot dead a man he suspected to be a thief.

The Inspector General of Police (IGP), General Kale Kayihura at an event recently said there was need to regulate and license private security firms following the escalating cases of unprofessional conduct by private security guards. He blamed the poor and unprofessional conduct by private security guards to their recruitment and training process.