Five gunshot victims hospitalised in Arua

Five people who sustained bullet wounds during the violence in Arua Municipality on Monday evening are ailing in two health facilities, Sunday Monitor has established.
The five victims, all males, were shot from different spots within Arua Town that was at the centre of violence that left one dead and more than 35 people, including Members of Parliament, arrested. Kyandondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi’s driver, Yasiin Kawuma, was shot dead from his car at Pacific Hotel.
This newspaper was told yesterday that two people, who were critically injured, were being treated at Rhema hospital, a private facility whereas three others were at Arua Regional Referral Hospital.

“My brother would have died if we took him to Arua hospital because there is no care. He is only alive because the private hospital has given the best attention he needed since he is badly injured,” said Mr Robert Apanga, a brother of Mr Michael Abiriga, one of those shot.
Speaking on phone from Arua, Mr Apanga said his brother was shot near Centenary Bank, Arua branch.

Shot in the ribs
Mr Abiriga, who according to his brother was shot in the ribs and the bullet came out through the chest, is being treated at Rhema Hospital with Gilbert Eyotre who was shot in the shoulder.
Three others: Innocent Asega, Isaac Egama and Philliam Anguyo, were by press time being treated of gunshot wounds in Arua hospital.
Mr Apanga said he had visited these three victims in the government facility.

We were unable to reach Arua hospital for a comment.
Mr Don Andiku, the acting administrator of Rhema hospital, confirmed the facility was treating bullet wound victims, Mr Abiriga and Mr Eyotre.
He said the victims with bullet wounds were brought to the facility on Monday night and they were operated on by the doctors.

“I can confirm we have two patients who were brought in on Monday night with bullet wounds. Dr Hilary Pariyo has since operated on them and they are improving,” Mr Andiku said by telephone from Arua.
He also said two police officers from the police headquarters in Kampala have since visited the facility and the patients. They signed the visitors’ book,” he said.
Mr Apanga said Asega was shot in the arm, Egama had a bullet through the buttocks but could not tell which part of Anguyo’s body was injured.

“I have seen all of them (victims). I actually visited Arua hospital yesterday (Friday). Abiriga has been on oxygen (life support) until Friday since his surgery on Monday night. He would have died on the road if sympathisers had not picked and rushed him to hospital,” Mr Apanga said.
Former Arua Woman MP Christine Abia, who was the chief campaign manager for MP-elect Kassiano Wadri, said she had heard of the victims but was yet to visit them in hospital because she was sickly.

Police speaks out
Police spokesperson Emilian Kayima told Sunday Monitor that there is no record of any victims of the Arua clashes apart from the death of Mr Kyagulanyi’s driver.
He said nobody had reported the causalities to police.

“We do not have any other people claiming that they were injured in the Monday, August 13 fracas in Arua. If they are there, we ask them or their relatives to kindly come forward so that police in Arua will take their record. This will enhance our investigation into the chaotic incidents of the day,” Mr Kayima said.
However, Mr Apanga who admitted not reporting his brother’s injuries to police because of fear of being victimised, told this newspaper that two teams of plain clothed officials claiming to be detectives had visited the facility.
They, he said, told them they were checking on the status of the victims.

While addressing a press conference in Kampala on Thursday, the former Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) president, Dr Kizza Besigye, said he suspects there were other unreported deaths in Arua.
Dr Besigye, who was in the area campaigning for FDC candidate Bruce Musema, said he saw a lifeless body being lifted onto a waiting police van that was immediately driven away.

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