Katumba Explains Killing At UPC Rally

By Geoffrey KamaliPOLICE chief Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala has explained the circumstances which led to the shooting in which a trainee journalist was killed on Saturday at Uganda House.Wamala told a press conference shortly after the shooting that he ordered the arrest of Kawempe DPC Good Mwesigwa, who was in charge of the operation and investigations were going on. “The officers responsible have been arrested and will answer for their actions. They should have carried non-lethal weapons,” Katumba said.Mwesigwa was arrested together with Police Constable Onyango and a Special Police Constable Busulwa. “I greatly condemn this act. The Police take up responsibility for whatever has taken place. They shouldn’t have carried live ammunition in the circumstances,” he said.Wamala said the incident occurred after a group accompanying multiparty diehards Aggrey Awori, Chaapa Karuhanga and Kibirige Mayanja stormed Uganda House and caused a scuffle with the Police.He said they shoved Mwesigwa and threw him down, prompting armed policemen around him to shoot into the crowd.The trio, Wamala said, had just met him at Kampala Central Police Station to inquire the whereabouts of Rwanyarare and Kulabako.Jimmy Ojotre Higenyi, a journalism student at UMCAT, a Kampala media institute, was shot through the back and chest. He died on spot.Those injured included policemen Okwir and Dirisa Wasswa and a civilian, Mutungi of Ibaare, Bushenyi.Kampala’s Extra-Regional Police chief Ahmed Wafuba said the DPP will decide whether the officers have a case of murder, causing death and injury. He also said the DPP will decide if the three have a case to answer and if they will be subjected to a criminal or to a Police court.The file goes to the DPP today. Wafuba further said Awori, Kibirige Mayanja and Chapaa Karuhanga will be witnesses.By midday yesterday, detectives led by Kampala’s CID chief Moses Sakira returned to the scene of the shooting for more clues. Meanwhile, the Police yesterday extended monetary and material assistance to the bereaved family of the late Ojotre Higenyi to cater for his burial.Deputy Police spokesman John Kimera yesterday said the Police had released sh700,000 for the burial and food to feed the mourners.“The Inspector General of Police Maj. Gen. Katumba Wamala has also sent a condolence message to the bereaved family,” Kimera said.He said the Police will also contribute towards the transportation of the body to Bunyole in Tororo district where it will be buried.However, the relatives who were supposed to pick the body yesterday, said they would do so today. They opted for fuel other than the Police truck offered by the Force to transport the body.UPC’s top man Dr. James Rwanyarare was arrested and released on bond.Ends