Kagadi police are holding one of their own following the fatal shooting of a soldier during a dispute at a local football match in Kyaterekera Town Council, Kagadi District. The police officer, identified only as Umar and attached to Kyaterekera Police Station, allegedly shot dead the soldier on Sunday evening, prompting panic and chaos among football fans at the venue.
The deceased has been identified as Omuhereza Akugizibwe Tuhaise, a resident of Kitumba “A” Cell in Kyaterekera Town Council, Kagadi District. Available information obtained indicates that Tuhaise was on pass leave from his duty station with the UPDF Mountain Division, currently deployed in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The incident occurred during the final game of a community football tournament at Kitumba Playground, featuring Super Lions FC and Lyanda FC. The tournament was organised by local businessman Innocent Tamwanga. According to the Kyaterekera Town Council LC3 Chairperson, Yosam Musisi, trouble started when the deceased allegedly declined to pay the full Shs 2,000 entrance fee to watch the match, instead offering Shs 1,000.
Musisi explained that shortly after Lyanda FC scored within the first three minutes of the game, the UPDF soldier reportedly attempted to force his way into the playground, resulting in a confrontation with one of the six police officers deployed to maintain law and order at the venue. The confrontation escalated, and the police officer shot the UPDF soldier dead. The incident caused panic among spectators, forcing the match to be halted immediately as residents and football fans became rowdy and hostile.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, has confirmed the incident, saying the deceased’s body was retrieved and taken to Kagadi General Hospital mortuary, where it is lying pending postmortem examination. Hakiza adds that although the police officer involved in the shooting has been arrested, the police have yet to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
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