Drunk policeman arrested for attempting to shoot at taxi driver
The policeman is currently in custody at Bulo Police Station as investigations continue. File photo
What you need to know:
- An eyewitness who preferred anonymity to speak freely said: "When the policeman missed the target, he moved back to position himself but luckily, the gun's magazine fell down because he was panicking. That's when his colleagues intervened to arrest him and take away the gun."
Police in Butambala District have arrested one of their own for allegedly attempting to shoot at a taxi driver in Bulo Trading Centre on Wednesday morning.
According to Ms Justine Chelengat, the officer in charge of Bulo Police Station, the incident happened at around 5am, when the drunk policeman shot at the tyre of a commuter taxi, registration no. UBD 088R belonging to Mr Silimaani Katta.
"He just missed his target but we suspect that he wanted to shoot at the taxi driver… we are still investigating the matter," she said in a telephone interview.
Mr Katta says he usually takes his vehicle to the police station for safety every night and pays some money to officers on duty to keep it safe. It was while he was getting it the next morning that the incident happened.
"I went there to pick the vehicle in the morning because I was going to work as usual. Unfortunately, this time around, I found this drunk policeman who had just arrived from a bar. He asked me to give him some money to buy waragi before I could take my vehicle but I just ignored his request. When I entered to ignite the engine, I just heard a bullet," Mr Katta told this reporter.
An eyewitness who preferred anonymity to speak freely said: "When the policeman missed the target, he moved back to position himself but luckily, the gun's magazine fell down because he was panicking. That's when his colleagues intervened to arrest him and take away the gun."
Residents in Bulo Trading Centre asked Butambala District Police Commander, Mr Julius Ahimbisibwe, to transfer the policeman because he is a threat to many lives in the area.
"He is a threat to many lives because he's seen in bars from morning to morning. Unfortunately, he moves with a gun. This is very risky. He should be transferred or heavily punished," Mr Julius Ssemanda, a trader said.
The policeman is currently in custody at Bulo Police Station as investigations continue.
