Armed thugs shoot Imam in cold blood

By Donald Kiirya

BUIKWE - Armed thugs on Saturday night shot an Imam of Masjid Sharaf mosque who was also an airtime dealer in Mbiko, Njeru town council in Buikwe district and made off with an unspecified amount of money.

Twahir Kamisi, a 42-year old resident of Kizungu Zone was shot in the neck and thigh. He died on arrival at Jinja regional referral hospital.

Residents gathered at the late Twahir Kamisa's home who was shot dead by armed thugs on Saturday night. Photos/Donald Kiirya

The senseless murder of Kamisi has since thrown residents in the area in untold fear.

Sarah Nakyeyune, a neighbour to the deceased said on the fateful night, two men stood by his (Kamisi) home as they waited for him.

Shortly Kamisi arrived on his motorcycle at about 9:30pm and the men walked straight to him. They put him on gunpoint and asked him to surrender the money he had in his bag.

Shocked residents gathered at the late Twahir Kamisa's home who was shot dead by armed thugs on Saturday night.

He handed over the money as he pleaded for his dear life but one of the thugs who had an AK 47 shot him in the leg and in the neck. He also fired in the air to scare away residents.

She said the thugs walked off and vanished into the night casually brandishing the gun as they also ordered residents to lock themselves inside their homes.

Residents taking Twahir Kamisa's body for burial at Galama village in Najja Sub County in Buikwe district on Sunday.

Terrified neighbours frantically made an alarm that attracted residents, and a taxi rushed him to Jinja hospital.

Unfortunately he did not make it and died as soon as they arrived at Jinja hospital.

 The late Kamisi (right) was shot twice

Steven Nsubuga, the LCI Chairperson of Kizungu Zone said it was the third incident to happen in Mbiko in three months.

He said they recovered three bullet cartridges at the scene and showed one to Press.

Dan Mugula, the Namuwaya Zone Councilor, said cases of armed robbery were on the rise in the area.

The senseless murder of Kamisi comes a month after another Mobile Money attendant, Agnes Babirye, was shot in both legs at Mbiko in Njeru town council as she was also going back at her residence.

Mugula said Babirye is still nursing wounds at Jinja referral hospital.

Circled is the spot where the Imam was shot

He added that in a similar incident, men besieged two brothers in Mbiko two months ago and ordered for money and later shot them in the legs. They are now nursing wounds and using walking sticks to walk.

Juliet Baguma, the Njeru Division CID officer said aggravated robbery was on the increase in Njeru adding that the same thugs were the ones terrorizing areas of Mbiko, Namwezi zone, Namuwaya zone and Njeru town.

Baguma said no arrests had been made yet but Police was investigating the matter so that the suspects are brought to book.

Kamisi left behind a wife and two children. He was laid to rest at Galama in Najja Sub County in Buikwe district on Sunday.