A policeman has allegedly shot dead Welcome Mbeeta, a teacher at Mubuku Valley Secondary school in Kasese district, sparking anger among residents of Mubuku town board.
One of Mbeeta’s teacher friends, Reagan Abbooki told this website that the deceased was shot dead on Saturday night by a policeman on his way from watching a football match.
“Mbeeta was a simple, humble teacher, he was my comrade. He loved football and it is unfortunate that he was shot dead on his way from watching a match. I think he was mistaken for a thief. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Abbooki told SoftPower News.
Police has confirmed the incident and commenced investigations into the shooting by Edson Kirya, a police officer cadet and O.C (Officer in Charge) of Mubuku police station.
“The policeman has been arrested and is in our custody. He shot the teacher dead on suspicion that he was breaking into a neighbour’s house at night,” Rwenzori East regional police commander Atwooki Patrick Bingi told SoftPower News on phone.
However, residents have rejected the theft claim by Police saying there were no grounds to suspect Mbeeta as a thief.
The residents instead demanded that police explains the increased shootings by police officer cadets in the area who they suspect are poorly trained.
According to Mubuku residents, two children were shot at by an officer cadet of Hima police station in 2016 and another person shot dead by a police cadet officer of Karusandra police station under similar circumstances in December the same year.
“The policeman (Edson Kirya) knew Mbeeta as a law abiding citizen. We all know that Mbeeta’s neighbour had given him his house key before Christmas,” said one of the residents who questioned why the policeman shot at the teacher he knew very well.
“He opened the door to pick his phone which was charging. Security lights were on. Mbeeta was not a thief,” the resident added.
Other residents decried police’ refusal to take the deceased to hospital after the shooting.