Woman shot as police enforces curfew in Mubende

Mubende, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The police in Mubende are investigating circumstances under which a 36-year-old woman was on Monday allegedly shot and injured as security personnel enforced the lockdown restrictions in South Division, Mubende Municipality.

On Saturday, President Museveni announced 21 days of lockdown in Mubende and Kassanda districts, restricting movements in and out, as a measure to mitigate the spread of Ebola virus disease. The restrictions also affected seasonal markets, worship places, and social places like bars and gyms while all burials shall be conducted by the safe burial teams.

Museveni also instituted a curfew in Mubende and Kassanda districts starting from 7:00 pm to 6:00 am.

The Wamala Regional Police Spokesperson Rachael Kawala identified the victim as Noeline Nalubyayi, a resident of Kirunji Ward, South Division. She says that according to preliminary investigations, on Monday, police officers while on patrol in Kirunji ward, found most shops and bars open and ordered to close. “The officers engaged bar owners asking them to close the premises which they did. However, one bar which was playing loud music attracted the attention of one of our officers who approached and found a group of people drinking,” said Kawala in a statement.

According to Kawala, the police officer ordered the people to disperse in vain but instead, the revelers allegedly pushed the officer out and in the process, his leg got stuck in the doorway. Kawala said that when police officers came to rescue their colleague, they were overpowered, prompting one of the police officers to release a bullet that hit Nalubyayi.

She says that a general inquiry file has been opened to pave way for investigations.

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