Employees of Ultimate Security Ltd and members of the public gather at the firm’s offices after a guard shot two of his bosses dead. PHOTOS/ISAAC KYANJO
A private security guard attached to the Ultimate Security Ltd, who had allegedly gone months without being paid his salary and was later sacked, raided the head office of the firm and shot dead two of his supervisors before the police intervened and killed him.
The police identified the dead as Noella Zella, the assistant human resource officer of Ultimate Security; Salez Bwampata, the armoury officer, and Richard Mwaawa, the security guard. It is alleged that Mwaawa first shot dead Zella and then turned on Bwampata at the security company’s offices at Mbuya, Nakawa Division in Kampala City at around 9am.
Employees of Ultimate Security Ltd gather outside their offices after the unfortunate incident on June 18, 2025.
The deputy spokesman of Kampala Metropolitan Police, Mr Luke Owoyesigyire, said the police were called in after Mwaawa had reportedly shot dead Zella and Bwampata. “Our officers responded to the crime scene and attempted to engage the shooter.
However, they didn’t succeed. They fatally wounded the suspect,” Assistant Superintendent of Police Owoyesigyire said. According to police sources, who visited the crime scene and interviewed the witnesses, Mwaawa had been complaining to his employers about salary arrears for two-four months, but he was sacked.
The annoyed Mwaawa is said to have visited the office to hand over the company property but then shoot Zella and Bwampaata. Police couldn’t confirm this narrative.
“At this stage, the motive behind the shooting remains unclear. Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident are ongoing, and further details will be communicated as soon as they are available,” Mr Owoyesigyire said.
The Ultimate Security chairperson, Mr Enos Tumusiime, declined to comment on the issue saying that the board chairperson isn’t part of the day-to-day running of the company and he has no idea about the incident.
A police pick-up truck at the scene of crime outside Ultimate Security Ltd offices in Kampala City.
The chairperson of the Uganda Private Security Association (Tupsa), Mr Grace Matsiko, said they are also waiting for the police to carry out their investigations to establish the motive of the shooting. “We are aware of the shooting incident in which three people have lost their lives today [Wednesday] and regret this tragic event,” Mr Matsiko said.
“Our prayers go to the families of the affected individuals and as the association, we received the highest assurances from Ultimate Security Company to help the Uganda Police Force investigate the matter to its logical conclusion. The public will be informed on the next course of action by the relevant bodies.”
Employees of Ultimate Security Ltd gather outside their offices after the unfortunate incident on June 18, 2025.
Misconduct
Incidents of private security guards engaging in criminal activities and unprofessional conduct are on the rise in Uganda. The police, which supervises the private security firms, has cancelled licences of many private security firms for failing to meet set standards like paying taxes and salaries.
In May 2023, the police suspended 39 firms for failing to comply with the standards set by the government. Several other firms are being threatened with suspension over the same issue.
Early this year, the chairperson of Tupsa, Mr Grace Matsiko, and Tupsa members met over the growing challenges in their sector.
They largely attributed most of them to financial struggles due to impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, declining clientele, and tough government policies.
They later visited the Inspector General of Police, Mr Abas Byakagaba, seeking a way forward.
In a document Tupsa’s leaders shared with Mr Byakagaba, the PSO members said their sector was hit with the effects of Covid-19 and many firms are yet to recover yet the government slapped new charges on them.
They decried “the impact of Covid-19 pandemic on the sector with no government assistance to the sector yet we are a multiplier force.”
