Police, UPDF search for soldier who shot Traffic officer on Sunday

The Uganda People’s Defence Forces-UPDF and sister security agencies are searching for one of their soldiers who shot and injured a traffic police officer in Ntinda, Kampala on Sunday.

According to Assistant Inspector General of Police-AIGP Asan Kasingye, the injured traffic officer is Police Constable Robert Mukebezi. 

It is alleged that the traffic officer was towing a vehicle that had knocked down the signpost-of-Kobil pump station when he was shot.

Kasingye took to Twitter to complain about the matter “Someone shot a traffic officer on Kira road following a minor accident this morning (Sunday). What awaits such a rash, negligent and intentional crime”. Kasingye wrote.

The story was later confirmed that a UPDF officer was behind the shooting. 

PC Mukebezi’s colleague told his superiors that he was seated in the breakdown truck that was towing a military vehicle that had knocked the signpost. 

However, as they towed the vehicle, soldiers who were in a double cabin that was parked on the side of the road jumped off and asked where they were taking the vehicle.

One soldier shot at the breakdown truck and injured Mukebezi, in the process.

The soldiers allegedly ordered the driver of the breakdown truck to tow the vehicle to Mbuya barracks instead of the police station.

Lt. Col Ronald Kakurungu the acting UPDF Spokesperson noted that the errant UPDF soldier is on the run.  

“Preliminary information indicates that there was a misunderstanding between the traffic officer and the soldier regarding recovery of a military vehicle that was involved in the accident. In the process, unfortunately, the traffic officer was shot and injured in the leg,” said Kakurungu. 

He added that they have very useful clues that will lead to his arrest and that UPDF together with Uganda Police have launched joint investigations into the unfortunate incident.