KAMPALA – The police are holding a driver who, on Sunday evening knocked dead a police officer in Kabalagala – a Kampala city suburb.
Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire identifies the suspect as Haman Rujjumba – whom he confirmed was driving under the influence of alcohol at the time of the accident.
Rujjumba knocked to death police constable Bosco Owili, attached to the Field Force Unit at Kabalagala police station. Rujjumba was driving a BMW registration number UAP 122Z when he caused the accident that claimed the life of Owili, who was riding a Yamaha motorcycle registration number UP 7965 along Ggaba road near Kampala International University – KIU as he patrolled the area to ensure curfew regulations were adhered to.
According to eyewitness, the suspect who was speeding – possibly to evade arrest for driving during curfew hours, dragged the police constable under his car for about 10 metres from the first contact and immediately fled into hiding.
Kabalagala police station – Ag. Commandant, led a team of officers – who rushed to the scene of the accident, identifying the deceased constable, recovering a police motorcycle and an AK47 gun with a damaged magazine.
“The deceased body was conveyed to the city mortuary for a postmortem. However, at the scene, police said they recovered some exhibit, including the suspect’s vehicle, which is waiting for inspection,” noted Owoyesigyire on Monday.
He revealed that when the police mounted a manhunt for the suspect – he was found hiding at Rock clinic in Church zone, a stone throw away from the crime scene and arrested him.
Preliminary police findings show that the driver who is not listed amongst the essential workers had almost knocked other officers at one checkpoint in Kansanga as he drove past them before the fatal incident. According to Owoyesigyire, police subjected the suspect to a breathalyzer test and found him to have taken alcohol above the lawful limit.
Security personnel have either been killed or injured while enforcing Covid-19 preventive guidelines since the pandemic broke out in Uganda.
Last week, a mob lynched a boda boda cyclist in Katwe, who had stabbed and seriously injured a police officer who was on duty enforcing the Covid-19 guidelines.
Owoyesigyire said the deceased stabbed constable Ismail Menjar, who was enforcing the nighttime curfew after impounding his motorcycle – registration number UDM 2772M at Kibuye road junction along Entebbe road. Last year, a motorist knocked a traffic officer at Namanve along Kampala-Jinja highway. Constable Innocent Ayesigye died at Rubaga Hospital where he was admitted.
