Internal affairs to issue statement on Akena murder

PIC:  The mother of the late Akena was inconsolable at her son's funeral on Tuesday. (Credit: Peter Busomoke)

KAMPALA - The ministry of internal affairs will issue a statement on the murder of Kenneth Watmon Akena, a 32-year-old community development officer.

Akena was shot in the stomach at Game Shopping Mall on Saturday and city businessman, Mathew Kanyamunyu and his girlfriend Cynthia Munwangari have since been taken into custody by police to help with investigations.

However, initial reports that Akena had been shot by a riled Kanyamunyu after he accidentally scratched his car as he reversed in the driveway of the shopping mall has spawned heated emotional debate in the public sphere, some tinged with ethnicity undertones.

A funeral service was held at Mbuya Catholic Church on Tuesday, attended by hundreds of mourners, including friends, family and workmates.

Hundreds paid their last respects to Akena at his funeral service at Mbuya Catholic Church. (Credit: Peter Busomoke)

"The loss of our brother and son is such a big loss. We mourn with his family. The police is currently conducting investigations and ministry of internal affairs will issue a statement on this matter," Prime Minister, Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda told parliament the same day.

"No stone will be left unturned in these investigations and those responsible will face the wrath of the law," Rugunda added.

However, the PM did not give a timeline within which the statement will be issued.

Rugunda was responding to concerns by Pader district woman MP, Lowila Oketayot who raised apprehension about the possibility of well-connected people meddling with police investigations to defeat the cause of justice.

Although conceding that its vitally is important for people not to breath down police's neck as it conducts investigations into the fatal shooting, Lowila noted that the varying accounts of the murder is a cause for concern.