Man shot dead as Western Youth MP fighting for his life after being shot

MBARARA  | UNRA  | POLICE

Western Region Youth Member of Parliament aspirant Simon Katuramu was this evening shot by police officers manning the Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) weighbridge station in Koranorya Mbarara city. 

Katuramu is currently admitted at the Mbarara Regional Referral hospital with a bullet stuck in his chest, a friend who spoke to New Vision confirmed. However, another man, who was travelling with him in the same truck, was shot dead.

UNRA media manager Allan Ssempebwa confirmed the unfortunate incident and noted that a team had been dispatched from UNRA headquarters to assist the Mbarara police with the investigations.

"We have heard of the unfortunate incident. Our teams, working with the Police, is on the ground trying to determine what exactly transpired. The policemen who were involved have been arrested to assist with the investigations,"

Rwizi Region Police Spokesman Samson Kasasira, also confirmed the shooting incident noting that Katuramu was travelling in a lorry carrying iron sheets together with three other occupants but when they were stopped the instead sped off prompting the shooting.

In a statement sent to the New Vision, Kasasira noted that: "Today Tuesday August 18, 2020 at around 4:20pm, one Andrew Mugume, 48, a vice-chairperson LC1 Kacence west cell, Kakiika ward, Mbarara city reported to Central Police station Mbarara, a case of attempted murder by shooting of one Katuramu, a 26-year-old, by suspected counter-terrorism police officers attached to UNRA Weigh Bridge station in Koranorya, Mbarara," Kasasira said.

He further noted that, "It's alleged that motor vehicle FUSO LORRY UBF 109D loaded with iron sheets was stopped at the weighbridge and the driver refused to stop. Police officers and other UNRA staff pursued the vehicle while shooting at the tyres and in air.

Along the way (Bypass Road), the victim after being shot in the chest, jumped out of the lorry, crawled to a neighbor who took him to Mbarara Hospital for treatment."
He noted that one of the occupants of the car was however shot dead and that he had been identified as Ivan Bimanyirwoha from Rukungiri District.

Kasasira noted that the other occupants of the car, who included the lorry driver and his turn man, were missing.