Ogenga Latigo's vehicle shot at

Hellen Mukiibi
and Steven Candia

MILITARY Police escorts of a money van yesterday shot at the vehicle carrying the leader of the Opposition, Prof. Morris Ogenga Latigo, as his driver tried to overtake the four-vehicle convoy near Luweero town.

The 54-year-old politician and his driver escaped unhurt. In a telephone interview last night, Latigo said the bullets landed two metres away from his official vehicle. He said the Bank of Uganda bullion van, heading to Kampala, was escorted by armed military Police personnel aboard three vehicles.

Traffic Police officials yesterday said the Central Bank bullion vehicles, with armed escort and flashing beacon lights, have a right of way under the Traffic and Road Safety Act of 1998 as they are considered to be on emergency.

“As I rushed to Parliament from Gulu, we came across a bullion van with military escorts about 10 miles from Luwero. I asked my driver to overtake. On signalling his intention, the soldiers in the tail vehicle waved us back and tried to stop us,” Latigo said.

“I asked the driver to go past the last car so that I talk to the group in the middle vehicle. They waved us back but we continued overtaking. I pushed my head out of the window to tell them who I was.”

As they slowed down they were shot at. “The bullets landed two metres away as they continued to shout and pointed at the tyres of my vehicle. We continued to Kampala, driving 15-20 metres behind the convoy.”

Latigo said although blocking his car was justifiable, the shooting was “reckless use of the gun.”
He demanded for a special number plate indicating that he is a leader of the Opposition.