Guard arrested for shooting dead 18-year-old hawker

Police in Mbarara District in western Uganda are holding a 28-year-old private security guard for allegedly shooting and killing a hawker at Total petrol station at Kashari in Mbarara town.
Rwizi region police spokesperson Samson Kasasira said Brian Byaruhanga, a guard attached to Security Group Africa (SGA) shot Dissan Ahereza, 18, in the chest following a scuffle between the two after the hawker resisted arrest.

The shooting happened at about 8pm on Wednesday.
‘’The victim had allegedly assaulted the security guard a day before and when he appeared at the same place, they tried to arrest him but he became stubborn and got hold of the gun by the muzzle. As they tried to put it away from him, the security guard discharged the bullet hitting the victim in the chest,’’ said Mr Kasasira.

Mr Kasasira said Ahereza was rushed to Mbarara regional referral hospital where he died. The body has been given to the relatives for burial.
Byaruhanga was arrested and taken to Mbarara central police station as investigations continue.
“We are still investigating because one of the security guards who was hit on his fingers has not yet made a statement,” the police spokesperson said.

Mr Edson Ayebazibwe, the uncle to the deceased said his nephew was killed mistakenly.
‘’The truth is my nephew was killed as he tried to run away. He was killed mistakenly because he was not the person they were looking for,’’ said Mr Ayebazibwe.
He said after the burial on Thursday, the family will consult their lawyers on how to follow up the case to make sure that the perpetrators are brought to book.
‘’There is no law in Uganda that allows killing any person and we shall go to the courts of law and make sure that the laws of Uganda are respected,’’ said Mr Ayebazibwe.