Soldier shot in attempted robbery

Army man shot and seriously injured by the police after allegedly being caught red-handed in a robbery attempt.

A man believed to be a UPDF soldier attached to Bombo Army barracks has been shot and seriously injured after he was allegedly found trying to rob a businessman in Nyendo Town, Masaka Municipality.
The man (names withheld) was shot by the police on Sunday at around 11pm and his colleague arrested.

The southern region police spokesperson, Mr Noah Sserunjogi, claimed that the duo waylaid Mr Denis Mukasa from Lambu Landing Site in Bukakata Sub-county but on seeing the police, the suspect drew a toy pistol to scare the officers.

Mr Sserunjogi said they responded by shooting and injuring him in the chest.
He said the soldier had been admitted to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital and the toy pistol taken to Masaka Central Police Station as an exhibit.

Mr Sserunjogi said he informed the UPDF commanders about the incident and the two would be prosecuted for robbery.

The hospital medical superintendant, Dr Florence Gumusiriza, said the injured soldier was under intensive care but his condition was not worrying.

Mr Sserunjogi advised the residents against moving with big sums of money and urged them to instead use banks to keep it.