Police have arrested a bodyguard attached to Speaker of Parliament Anita Among over the shooting of a female motorist near her residence, as fresh accounts point to an altercation moments before the gun was discharged.
The suspect, identified as Corporal Humphrey Muhanguzi, is in custody as investigations intensify into the incident in which a yet-to-be-identified woman was shot and injured on Mackinnon Road.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Rachael Kawala earlier confirmed the shooting, saying details remained limited.
“It is true there was a shooting. She was driving a Toyota Harrier UBQ 038A. She was shot by a police officer. I don’t have all the details right now,” Ms Kawala said.
Emerging accounts suggest the motorist had been driving from prayers at All Saints Cathedral when she approached the road leading towards the Speaker’s residence, an area under heightened security and currently partly under construction.
Chris Obore, the Parliament spokesperson, said there was an altercation between the officer and the driver, who reportedly insisted on using the road despite being advised otherwise.
According to that account, the officer struck the vehicle’s bonnet with a gun, triggering a discharge that resulted in the shooting.
Separately, the Speaker’s office said she was not at her residence at the time of the incident.
“While en route from Bukedea, where she had attended a family event, the Kampala Metropolitan Police informed the Rt Hon Speaker about an incident that had occurred near her residence, involving a police officer and a female driver,” said Sabiti Joseph, Principal Press Secretary to the Speaker.
He said that upon her return to Kampala, Ms Among was briefed by police and reached out to the victim’s family.
“She expressed her sympathies and offered support for medical treatment. She remains in close contact with the family and is actively monitoring the victim’s recovery,” Sabiti said.
He added that the officer involved had been handed over to relevant authorities for investigation, and that the Speaker had directed police to expedite inquiries.
“The Rt Hon Speaker has requested the Kampala Metropolitan Police to conduct expeditious investigations in the interest of justice and to inform the public about the details of the incident to counter misinformation,” he said.
The incident has drawn renewed scrutiny over the conduct of armed officers assigned to VIP protection, particularly in civilian areas where enforcement actions can quickly escalate.
