KAMPALA – The police in Mukono have arrested their counter-terrorism unit commander, Dismas Tebangole for shooting a student of Uganda Christian University – UCU in the early morning of Saturday.
Tebangole, 57 allegedly injured 21-year-old Natasha Nagayi at Nabuti village, Mukono Central Division.
The suspect allegedly admitted to having shot the victim-claiming he suspected she was trying to gain entrance to his house early in the morning.
“I heard someone attempting to open my main door using a key. I peeped through the window glass and I saw a person opening my door.
“I wasn’t excepting anyone. I became suspicious and I discharged three bullets through the window glass,” police authorities quoted Tebangole as saying.
Nagayi who was injured on the right chest near the lower armpit – fell down in agony – crying for help as she pleaded with the officer to spare her life – asserting that she wasn’t a crook.
According to eyewitnesses who responded to her call for help – narrated that she told a story of how she was a girlfriend to a one Ashiraf Bandishe – a tenant who shared a block with Tebangole.
Hanington Ssengendo, the caretaker of the residence along with other neighbours separately narrated that Bandishe confirmed to them that he had given his house keys to Nagayi to have a rest but the student had mistakenly tried to open the wrong door – belonging to Tebangole.
Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy Spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire said Tebangole’s pistol was picked with 12 bullets.
“We have been told that she mistakenly attempted to open the suspect’s room, which is opposite Bandishe’s room – leading to the unfortunate shooting incident. To preserve the integrity of the crime scene, initial steps were taken by the first responders.
“A pistol with 12 rounds of live ammunition was recovered from the suspect by the response police team,” revealed Owoyesigyire.
Nagayi was rushed in critical condition to Kawolo hospital for immediate medical attention as Police embarked on the task of investigations.
Gun violence has dominated Ugandan headlines in the last two weeks – and in some of the unfortunate incidents – a cabinet minister, money lender, two UPDF soldiers and four private security guards have all been victims of separate shootings incidents.
