Man arrested for ‘trailing’ Principal Judge Bamwine’s convoy

Police in Kampala have arrested a man for allegedly trailing the Principal Judge, Yorokamu Bamwine’s convoy.

Following the assassinations of high profile government officials including prosecutor Joan Kagezi, AIGP Andrew Felix Kaweesi and Maj. Muhammad Kiggundu, security got concerned and alert over vehicles and motorcycles following convoys.

On Wednesday evening, it is reported that Police had to fire shots at a car that was suspected of following Bamwine’s convoy as he returned home.

According to the New Vision, the car, a Mercedes Benz registration number UBF 379H trailed Bamwine's car which was heading to Naguru from Kamwokya prompting the security detail on the convoy to become suspicious and alerted Kira Road Police station.

It is reported that at Kira road traffic lights, Police tried to stop the vehicle from following the convoy but the driver ignored the same prompting officers to fire shots at the vehicle.

Earlier reports from the government newspaper had indicated that four people had been arrested but according to the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, only one person, the driver of the Benz was arrested after sustaining injuries off the gunshots by police.

“We have only one suspect who sustained injuries and is currently admitted to hospital until he recovers,” Owoyesigyire said.

He, however, noted investigations have started into the circumstances under which the man was shot for allegedly following the Principal Judge’s convoy.

“Kira road police is investigating a shooting by its officers along the traffic lights after it was alleged there was a Mercedes Benz that was trailing the Principal Judge’s convoy.”

He said it is illegal according to the traffic and road safety act to trailing a convoy especially for VIPs.

“The allegations according to officers that fired shots are that the suspect tried to flee when they stopped him. The occupant of the vehicle is currently receiving treatment and one boda boda rider who was nearby,”Owoyesigyire said.

“We shall have to record statements from the escorts of the Principal Judge who forwarded the complaint to Kira road police and also from the suspect. As of now we are still investigating it as a shooting.”

In 2015, Senior Principal State Attorney, Joan Kagezi was shot dead in Kiwatule by unknown assailants who were following him on a motorcycle and pounced on her as she had branched off to buy some fruits on the roadside.

In June last year, unknown assailants allegedly travelling on motorcycles trailed then Arua Municipality MP Col.Ibrahim Abiriga before shooting him dead as he returned home together with his bodyguard in Kawanda, Wakiso district.

Following those gruesome incidents, security has been alert on suspicious vehicles and motorcycles trying to trail convoys of VIPs.

However, early this year, one person riding a motorcycle was shot dead in Naggalama, Mukono district for allegedly trailing the state Minister for ICT, Aidah Nantaba’s vehicle.

Nantaba alerted Naggalama police station of a suspicious motorcycle with two occupants with a bag on their backs trailing her vehicle and subsequently, a police patrol put up a chase, before shooting dead one Ronald Ssebulime.

It later turned out that Nantaba had made a false alarm because Ssebulime was alone on the motorcycle and the bag he had on the back had drinks and eats as he was moving to visit her daughter at school.

It was also revealed that Ssebulime had been arrested alive, handcuffed, dragged on the ground and shot twice in the chest.

Police responded by arresting four police officers for shooting dead Ssebulime after arresting him.