Uganda Police has come out to explain the circumstances that led to the shooting of Eric Mutatsiga, the headteacher of Merry Time Primary School in Mukono District on May 3, 2020.
Mutatsiga died Monday June 8, from Mulago Hospital where he had been admitted. His family said he succumbed to an infection which arose from the bullet wounds.
Earlier reports obtained by this website indicated that Mutatsiga was shot two times in the thigh by an LDU constable at Wantoni town center following a scuffle that erupted as the security tried to enforce curfew.
The deceased, reports further indicate he tried to protect a teenager who was found selling chapits past 7pm.
Reacting to a story we published Tuesday titled “Big Story: Mukono Headteacher shot by LDU dies from Mulago” Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy publicist Luke Owoyesigire clarified that, “it is a police officer who shot not LDU.”
The shooter who was arrested briefly and later given bond made a statement explaining what prompted him to shoot Mutatsiga.
Allegations
“It’s alleged that other 03/05/2020 at around 1945hrs PC no 66142 Dismas Mugisha and PC no 66780 James Jjemba all attached to Wantoni Police Post while on motorized patrol in the area had reached in a place called Kame Zone on Katosi road when they found one man identified as Mubendo Alex making chapatis past the official time for curfew.
The two police officers told Mubendo to close and come with them to the Police Post.
On boarding a motor cycle, man one commonly known as Taata Timothy protested Mubendo’s arrest and removed the key from the police motorbike.
He rallied other people to foil the arrest who immediately began pelting stones at the officers.
One policeman shot in air to disperse the growing crowd. However, PC Jjemba was overpowered and he fell down prompting PC Mugisha to shot Taata Timothy (Eric Mutatsiga) in self defense.”
However, we have learnt that the deceased had also recorded a statement rubbishing the cops’ claims as “untrue and cooked.”
Eyewitnesses who spoke to this website insist it was an LDU constable that fired 6 bullets as two shattered Mutatsiga’s left leg.
Asked if Police had reinstated the charges and arrested the two officers following death of Mutatsiga, Luke Owoyesigire said police is waiting for their file to return from State Attorney’s office.
“We will take them to court and that was our earlier plan. So we are waiting for the advice of the DPP and we shall produce them to court. All relevant witnesses recorded statements. The victim denied the allegations the police officers made before his shooting incident,” Luke said.
Earlier Tuesday, mourners told TrumpetNews that police had blocked the family from accessing Mutatsiga’s body from Mulago and also there was heavy deployment at the deceased’s home in Mukono.
Police informed the family that it will hand the burial considering the turbulent times the country facing over COVID-19.
But Luke Owoyesigire dismissed these allegations saying, “at least Mukono Police isn’t aware of that.”
