11 year old boy hit by stray bullet

By Ismael Kasooha in Kibaale

AN 11 year old boy is admitted at Mubende Regional referral hospital after he was hit by a stray bullet as police tried to disperse irate residents from lynching a suspected murderer on Tuesday

Besigye Musinguzi son to Silvester Musinguzi residents of Mikoole village, Kasambya Sub County in Kibaale district was hit in the left thigh during running battles between the residents and the police who wanted to rescue a shop keeper identified as Daudi Bakundente who the residents of Kisengwe trading center wanted to lynch suspecting him of being behind the killing his son on Sunday afternoon.

Musinguzi said his returning from a nearby water source to fetch water when he was hit by a bullet fired by police in the process of quelling an angry mob.

The boy was rushed to Blue Star Clinic in Kisengwe for first aid before being referred to Mubende Hospital in critical condition with blood oozing out of the bullet wound.

David Otabong the officer in charge Kibaale police headquarters said the child was accidentally hit by a stray bullet.

He said that police had been deployed in the area to prevent mob action against the shop owner.

Otabong blamed residents for the incident because they wanted to take the law in their hands which he said is illegal.

“If the residents had not wanted to take the law in their hands then such an incident wouldn’t have happened,” said Otabong.

Ben Mugisha the Crime Intelligence and Investigations Directorate chief Kibaale district told New Vision that the child is currently at Mubende Hospital.

“The child is improving and we are investigating the matter,” said Mugisha.

Samuel Kisembo Araali the Kibaale Resident District Commissioner has directed police to arrest the errant police constables who fired live bullets during the chaos.