Four injured as police fired bullets to disperse mob at Arua Bus Park
Passengers waiting for buses at Arua Park in Kampala recently. Four people including two police officers were injured in chaos that ensued after the officers went to arrest a suspected robber. FILE PHOTO
KAMPALA. Bullets and stones were exchanged at Arua Bus Park in Kampala as police enforced arrest of suspected robber on Wednesday afternoon.
Chaos ensued after policemen who had gone to arrest the suspect, who was reportedly hiding inside one of the kiosks at the bus park, were pelted with stones by the crowd.
One of the two policemen who had been sent to effect the arrest was hit on the head prompting the Arua Bus Park Police Post commander, ASP Thomas Baboine, to deploy more officers to rescue their colleagues who had reportedly been surrounded by the charged crowd.
Mr Baboine ordered his officers to fire in the air to disperse them.
“We’re tired of being arrested for no offence. Every time a crime is committed, police targets us. We are not criminals. Our duty is to carry luggage for survival,” the youths shouted as they pelted stones at policemen.
Two people were shot and rushed to Mulago hospital for treatment. Police identified one of them as Joseph Olumi. Two police officers were also injured in the chaos.
In March police faced similar resistance as they hunted for suspected dealers of counterfeit motor vehicle spare parts who had also been accused of vandalizing vehicles of customers to nearby shops. In February, a Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) staff was injured as law enforcement officers were evicting roadside mechanics and vendors in Kisekka Market.
