Policeman killed by teargas canister

By Emmanuel Luganda

A police officer has died after he was shot by a teargas canister in the chest during a night-time operation.

Kenneth Wakoodu, the officer-in-charge at Bukasa Police Post, died Saturday morning at Mulago hospital where he had been admitted in critical condition.

According to local media reports, Wakoodu was on a night-time operation where he had gone to arrest some criminals.

While there, he accidentally slid on a teargas canister which shot him in the chest, reports indicated.

His death comes a week after a police officer attached to Kajjansi police station was shot dead by robbers in a late-night attack.

Cadet Officer Joseph Bigirwa, who was the officer-in-charge of Kajjansi police station, was killed last Friday as he responded to distress calls for help.

The unknown number of thugs dressed in civilian attire and armed with two rifles attacked GAZ petrol station and a Mobile Money point which is located within the petrol station.

They made off with sh11m from the Mobile Money agent and over sh200,000 from the pump attendants.

On Thursday, the police said they had arrested a gang of nine thugs said to be behind the Kajjansi murder.

Three of them were South Sudanese. The police flying squad recovered three AK 47 rifles from the suspects.

They were interrogated and recorded statements, police said, and face charges of murder and aggravated robbery.