Security guard charged with shooting civilians

By Adolf Ayoreka

The court martial sitting at second Division Makenke in Mbarara Municipality on Thursday  remanded Pte Arthur Karakure for shooting and wounding civilians.

The court was presided over by Col. Geofrey Mujuni.   

Maj. Peter Mugisha, the army spokesperson for second division, said that Karakure was brought to court to secure a detention warrant as investigations go on.

Mugisha said while in Akashesheri Village Nshara in Nyabushozi county Kiruhura district, Karakure attacked the family of Molly Mpirirwe after developing disagreements and that in the process; he shot Mpirirwe in the leg. The accused also shot the victim's brother, Eden Nasasira, in the leg and the arm as he came to rescue the situation.

He added that Karakure was hired by Kellen Kayonga, the Managing Director Askar Security Services, to provide protection.

 "It's incumbent upon us to protect this lady because she is related to Gen Salim Saleh. The security of our senior officer's relatives is the responsibility of UPDF. It was not his intentions to shoot, but due to the quarrels they had, we think they tried to grab a gun from him," Maj. Mugisha noted.

But for now, he added that Karakure is being charged with shooting and causing wounds to civilians until investigations are complete. The accused is currently detained at Kyamugorani Government Prison from where he will reappear before court on September 5.

After the shooting, the two victims were rushed to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, but were on Wednesday taken to Bombo Miltary Hospital for more treatment on orders Maj. Gen Peter Elwelu.
 
John Nahabwe, one of the residents of Nshara, who witnessed the incident, said it has been  Karakure's habit to threaten residents in the area with his AK47. The first time, Karakure used his gun to threaten Jackson Twabasi.

The case was reported on Kaguta road police station in Kiruhura district on SD 02/13/8/2017 before the file was transferred to Rwizi Regional CIID headquarters in Mbarara for investigations.