KAGADI – As police investigation into the assassination of a renowned businessman in Kagadi district continues, more details have emerged on how he lost his life.
Mr Abudalla Ntambara, a resident of Kasojo trading centre, Rwabaranga parish in Mpeefu Sub County in Kagadi District was reportedly shot dead by an unknown gunman on Thursday night.
And now residents say the deceased was found in his shop at around 9 pm by a man wearing an army uniform with a hooded face. The assassin then shot Ntambara twice in the chest before taking off.
According to eyewitnesses, the assailant was riding on a motorcycle.
Albertine Regional Police spokesperson Mr Julius Hakiza said a postmortem revealed that the 51-year old, who was the chairperson of traditional healers in greater Kibaale region, died of excessive bleeding.
Ntambara who unsuccessfully contested in the last area LCI elections owned two shops, a maize grain milling machine and Kitare nursery and primary school at Kasojo trading Centre.
Mr Bright Mwebeshi, a resident, said that Ntambara had no known wrangle with anyone that might have culminated into his brutal killing.
The Police’s scene of crime officers and forensic experts on Friday morning visited the scene.
However, the Albertine Regional Coordinator of Crime preventers, Mr Peter Mayanja has told the press that crime preventers in the area picked information about an impending assassination and informed Police which did not act.
The Kagadi district crime Preventer got information from residents at about 8pm who sighted two unidentified men who had one gun in the trading centre.
According to Mr Mayanja, after obtaining intelligence information, the crime preventer called the number of the OC Kobusera Police post who informed him that he had been transferred. The former OC of the area reportedly have the crime preventer the phone number of the current OC of the area.
“He informed the area OC Kobusera police post who refused to go to arrest the suspects. She claimed that she is a woman with little manpower to attack gunmen” Mayanja said.
If police had acted in time to apprehend the suspects, the deceased would possibly have not died, Mayanja said.
He has promised to file a complaint against the OC who hold the rank of a Sergeant to the Albertine Regional Police commander Mr Deo Obura.
He wants Police to probe her over alleged negligence of duty and incompetence and failure to protect people and their properties.
When told about the complaint raised by the crime preventers, the Albertine regional police spokesperson Mr Julius Hakiza said he cannot ascertain whether Mr Mayanja’s concerns are genuine or not.
“I have seen it circulating on social media. But it is a mere allegation. I don’t think an OC can refuse to intervene due to insufficient manpower. We don’t have enough manpower in many parts of the country but we call for reinforcement from neighbouring police posts or army units” Hakiza said.
He, however, advised Mr Mayanja and crime preventers in the area to prove police with any evidence they may have against the OC of the area.
“Let them bring to us the evidence. We shall study it and take action” Hakiza said.
Since 2012, a number of prominent Ugandans like politicians, Muslim clerics, security officers, judicial officers among others have been gunned down by unknown assailants who ride on motorcycles.
The reasons for the killings remain unknown as police are yet to release reports.
