Bebe Cool speaks out on shooting

Jan 31, 2010

Controversy still surrounds the circumstances under which Special Police Constables (SPCs) shot and injured local musician Moses Ssali, alias Bebe Cool, on Saturday morning.

By Francis Kagolo

Controversy still surrounds the circumstances under which Special Police Constables (SPCs) shot and injured local musician Moses Ssali, alias Bebe Cool, on Saturday morning.

The Police and the hospitalised singer continue to give conflicting accounts of the matter. Speaking from his bed in Nsambya Hospital, Bebe Cool denied Police reports that he engaged in a quarrel with the two SPCs who shot him.

He also denied rendering support to a couple making love in a car in a public parking area, whom the SPCs were trying to arrest.

“The Policeman shot me four times. I was innocent. This must be investigated,” Bebe Cool told The New Vision.

He links his mishap to rivalry in the music industry. He said he had recently informed the Police chief, Maj. Gen. Kale Kayihura, about a plot to kill him.

“The good thing is that Kayihura and his personal assistant were aware of plans by some people to shoot me. I have been receiving phone messages from anonymous senders, threatening to finish my life.”

Alfred Acihikan, an SPC attached to Jinja Road Police station, allegedly shot Bebe Cool along with his two bodyguards, Cobra and Allan Masengere, at 3:30am on Saturday. Acihikan was arrested.

The incident occurred behind Nakumatt Supermarket as the singer left Effendy’s Bar and Restaurant, located in Centenary Park. A bullet also hit Police officer David Oluka who is admitted at Mulago Hospital.

Earlier in the night, Bebe Cool had performed at American music star Robert Kelly’s show at Lugogo Cricket Oval from where he went to Club Silk in Industrial Area.

He narrated that together with his wife, Zuena, they left Club Silk at 3:00am and went to test his new songs at Effendy’s.

But he was allegedly denied entrance after it was found that his two rivals, Moses Radio and Weasel of the Goodlyfe Entertainment Crew, were there.

“We engaged in a squabble with the Weasels. Effendy’s management offered me two security guards attached to Hash Security and a Police officer (Oluka), dressed in uniform, to escort me away from the bar.”

Bebe Cool said he wanted to do some shopping at Nakumatt but the SPCs intercepted them on the way to the supermarket.

“I heard one of the SPCs cocking a gun. He first shot the Police officer who was escorting me. Then he fired five bullets in my thighs. He shot Cobra and Masengere one bullet each.” Bebe Cool said the two security guards disappeared as soon as the shout-out began.

His statements sharply contradict the Police’s account. The Police on Saturday said both Oluka and Acihikan are SPCs attached to Jinja Road Police Station.

They said they tried to stop a couple from having sex in a car on the Nakumatt premises. The man in the car asked them if he could call his ‘lawyer’ but instead, Bebe Cool and his bodyguards showed up. The shooting, the Police said, started when the group tried to disarm the SPCs.

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