Police probe death, injuries at Minister Balaam’s Busia NRM drive
Collins Ojambo, 16, recovers at a local clinic in Busia T own Council after he was reportedly hacked on his shoulder during a National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilisation drive organised by State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahare, at Namungodi Town Council. PHOTO/DAVID AWORI
What you need to know:
- Mr Barugahara’s arrival at the grounds with his regional cooperation counterpart and Samia Bugwe North MP, John Mulimba, degenerated into chaotic scenes as youths loyal to him allegedly fought with supporters of his rival John Paul Wandera
Police in Busia District have launched an inquest into the death of a 19-year-old disc jockey (DJ) during a National Resistance Movement (NRM) mobilisation drive organised by State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs, Balaam Barugahara, at Namungodi Town Council on Friday.
The fatal attack on Polly Bwire also left Lawrence Owori and Collins Ojambo, 16, a Senior One student at Namungodi Seed Secondary School, nursing injuries.
Busia District Police Commander, Alice Kuka, said the deceased was fatally stabbed by unknown assailants during the NRM party mobilisation drive at around 1 am.
“We have recorded a murder where one youth was stabbed to death by an unknown assailant. Whereas Police responded swiftly and evacuated the victim to Busia Health Centre IV, he was pronounced dead on arrival,” Kuka said, adding that they have embarked on investigations which suggest that the attacks could be politically motivated.
Mr Barugahara’s arrival at the grounds with his regional cooperation counterpart and Samia Bugwe North Member of Parliament, John Mulimba, degenerated into chaotic scenes as youths loyal to him allegedly fought with supporters of his rival John Paul Wandera.
Mulimba and Wandera are seeking endorsement as the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM) party's flag bearer ahead of the primaries this month; however, their supporters accuse each other of orchestrating violence.
During the rally, Barugahara asked the crowd to support President Museveni, and also called upon them to “beat up” whoever dares to stand in Mulimba’s way.
“Do you know what is called an uppercut? Beat up whoever dares my colleague (Mulimba),” the minister said.
An uppercut is a punch used in boxing that starts low and travels upwards vertically, aiming at the opponent’s chin or upper abdomen.
Police will want to establish whether some of the event-goers set this directive in motion and fatally stabbed Bwire in the neck as he returned home at around 1am. He died on his way to the hospital.
His body was found with a deep wound around the neck consistent with one that would have been inflicted with a sharp object.
At Busia Health Centre IV, a sombre mood engulfed the mortuary where his body lay as relatives and friends tried to make sense of his death.
Joseph Obonyo, who was the last person to speak with Bwire, gave a vague description of his alleged attacker.
“I had just said goodbye to Bwire, and he had barely taken five steps from where I was when I saw him fall backwards, and a hooded man running away. As I moved closer, I saw my friend bleeding profusely and called out for help, unfortunately, he died,” he said.
Ojambo, who suffered a cut on his right shoulder and was recuperating from a local clinic, said he was attacked by “an axe-wielding man wearing a dark-coloured jacket and hood, who later disappeared under the cover of the dark.
