Uganda police force is holding private John Nyangas, a Uganda People's Defense Forces-UPDF soldier at CPS Jinja for allegedly shooting to death a boda boda rider.
It is alleged that Private Nyagas shot and killed Rodgers Kitabila, a resident of Kivubuka village in Budondo Sub County in Jinja district.
According to eye witnesses, the soldier was on duty, guarding Milly Babirye Babalanda, a state house employee who was attending a meeting of Busoga seventh day Adventist women ministry in Kivubuka village, when a mob descended on a suspected murderer identified as Rodgers Mbazi.
Mbazi is also suspected of killing Aloysius Ogoli.
During the mob attack, Nyangas opened fire in an attempt to disperse the mob and accidentally shot Kitabila in the process. The victim died on the spot.
According to David Musenze, the area LC I Chairperson, chaos first broke out on Friday night when Ogoli and Mbazi disagreed over a woman in a bar leading to a fist fight, which left Ogoli in critical condition.
Ogoli died shortly after being rushed to hospital. When residents received news of Ogoli's death they mounted a hunt for Mbazi and lynched him in the trading center.
Onesmus Mwesigwa, the Kiira Region Police Commander says they are holding Nyangas for murder, and two other suspects in relation to the murder of Oguli and Mbazi.
“We have arrested one serving officer Nyangas John on charges of murder by shooting. We picked him because he used excessive force” Mwesigwa said.
