By Siraje K. Lubwama & Zurah Nakabugo
Jan 9, 2005
|
KAMPALA � A soldier from the Presidential Guard Brigade allegedly shot and injured a guard at Hotel Africana on New Year�s eve. Mr Muhammed Mbayo was shot in the left leg at 11.58 p.m. at the Hotel�s reception. Mbayo, a resident of Kamwanyi zone in Luzira, was rushed to Kibuli Muslim Hospital, where his left leg was amputated the following day. When contacted for a comment, PGB spokesman Lt. Edison Kwesiga refused to reveal the suspect�s identity. �We arrested the suspects and handed them over to police. Until the investigations are complete, we can not reveal their names.� He added that the PGB was footing Mbayo�s medical expenses. The Hospital Administrator, Mr Sinan Siraj Mbulambago blocked Sunday Monitor from talking to the victim. �As a policy, we don�t allow pressmen to talk to patients who are traumatised. All I can tell you is that the patient is improving although he still has on and off pain,� he said. Mbulambago added that the decision to amputate Mbayo�s leg � above the knee � was upon recommendation from the surgery department; the nerves in the leg had been destroyed. An eyewitnesses at Hotel Africana � who preferred anonymity � told Sunday Monitor that the soldier who shot Mbayo is in his 20s. �They were two, pretending to fight. When this guard came to intervene, the one putting on a red shirt shot him. Police was called and the two suspects were taken to Jinja Road police station,� he recounted. He added that a few minutes after the duo had been whisked off by police, a third colleague who allegedly ordered the shooting, emerged from the top floor of the Hotel. �He was disarmed after admitting that he ordered the shooting, (but) only to be given his gun back by a senior Military Police officer who was there,� said the source. When contacted by Sunday Monitor, Military Police Commandant Lt. Col. Dick Bugingo said he was not abreast with news of any of his officers who allegedly intervened in the scuffle. �Certainly it is not me,� he added. When Sunday Monitor contacted the DPC of Jinja Road Police Station, Mr Wilson Kwanya, on Jan 7, he admitted that they had held some suspects. They were, however, released on police bond, he added. He too could neither reveal the number nor the identities of the suspects. �We can�t reveal their names when investigations are still going on. And please leave my office because I have a private call to attend to,� he said in furious tone. The station�s OC CID had earlier told Sunday Monitor that he had passed on the file to the Regional Police Commander, Mr Benson Oyo Nyeko. When approached, by Sunday Monitor, Nyeko denied ever having received the file. Management of Hotel Africana was equally mum about the incident. �Although the victim is our staff, I have nothing to tell you. Contact the police at Jinja Road,� said a senior manager. |
� 2005 The Monitor Publications.
Do you Yahoo!?
The all-new My Yahoo! � Get yours free!
_______________________________________________ Ugandanet mailing list [email protected] http://kym.net/mailman/listinfo/ugandanet % UGANDANET is generously hosted by INFOCOM http://www.infocom.co.ug/
