Butaleja, Uganda | URN | A stray bullet fired by a Uganda Police Force officer enforcing the nighttime curfew has killed a 12-year-old girl in Butaleja district.
The deceased is Esther Nemwa, a daughter of Fred Mulesa, a resident of Namuselu village in Nabiganda town council.
According to Mulesa, they had sent the deceased to the shop at around 7:30 pm when the tragedy occurred. He said that police opened fire while dispersing traders from the trading center.
The deceased’s uncle, Tony Wasaba says they have been hearing about such incidents but it has now arrived in their family.
Butaleja Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Stanley Bayoole told this publication on phone that the shooting was prompted by unruly and rowdy traders who were adamant about the curfew time. He says that rowdy residents pelted police officers with stones prompting them to open fire.
Read Also: Ugandan MPs want curfew time adjusted
Moses Mugwe, the Bukedi South Region Police Commander identified the officer who shot the teenager as Anthony Ocaya, saying that he has been arrested and charged with reckless actions as investigations are ongoing.
He revealed that it has become common in the district for residents to attack police officers and cited a recent incident in Busolwe town council where residents assaulted a police officer while enforcing the presidential guidelines on COVID-19 that include enforcing nighttime curfew and among other Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
