Army officer denied entry to trade fair, stabs official dead

Police in Rakai are holding a reserve force officer for killing an official at Kyotera.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening at Kasambya play ground in Kyotera Town council leaving the organisers shocked.

The suspect in custody is Private John Taddeo Bbaale No.221561 attached to Kaweweta Barracks in Nakaseke District. The deceased has been identified as Boaz Tumwine.

Trouble started when Bbaale went to the event in civilian clothes and tried to enter without paying, but Tumwine denied him access.

As a result, an argument ensured between them and within a flash, Bbaale pulled out a dagger and stabbed Tumwine several times in the abdomen.

Eyewitnesses said that Tumwine fell down and bled intensively before other officials picked him and rushed him to hospital. He died on the way to hospital.

It is said that Bbaale had gone to the visit his parents in Gayaza parish in Kasaali Sub-county when the incident happened.

One of the event's managers, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident may take its toll on the 10-day-long event.

Ibin Ssenkumbi, the regional Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident saying it was unfortunate.

He explained that the police officers and crime preventers at the venue overpowered Bbaale and arrested him.

He said they detained him at Kyotera Police Station and later transferred him to Rakai Police station for further investigations.

According to Ssenkumbi, due to the fact that the crime was committed by an army officer, they are going to arraign him in the Court Martial on murder charges after conclusive investigations.

He added that Tumwine's body was taken to a mortuary for a postmortem.

Patience Bbaganzi, the Officer in Charge of Kyotera police station said they have already opened up a case Ref.No.150/2016 to further their investigations.

She further said that it is the first case of its kind in the district since the year begun.

Baganzi added that they have stepped up security to ensure peace at the event until its conclusion.