A 13-year-old boy has been shot dead during a confrontation between residents and soldiers attached to a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement team in Busia District.
The deceased, identified as Dominic Wejuli, was killed as URA officers conducted an operation to impound suspected smuggled goods believed to have been brought from neighbouring Kenya and kept in a shop at Buhobe Trading Centre, Bulumbi Sub-county.
Police said the enforcement exercise turned chaotic after some residents reportedly became rowdy in an attempt to stop the team from confiscating the goods.
Bukedi South Police spokesperson Moses Johnson Mugwe said a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier attached to the URA team fired shots to disperse the allegedly violent crowd. One of the bullets, however, struck Wejuli, who was inside a house at the time. He died instantly.
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An eyewitness, Muhammed Ntalo, criticised the manner in which URA conducts its enforcement operations, accusing the agency of using excessive force and exposing civilians to danger.
Ntalo alleged that officers began firing live ammunition shortly after arriving at the trading centre, causing panic among residents.
Harriet Nekesa, the deceased’s sister, said the family was at a restaurant when they heard gunshots. They later learnt that Wejuli, a Primary Four pupil, had been shot.
A bullet reportedly pierced a gate during the incident.
Another resident, David Wandera, called on URA to review its enforcement procedures and ensure that civilian safety is prioritised during operations. He also urged the government to intervene over what residents described as enforcement practices involving excessive force.
David Ouma, a teacher at Buhobe Primary School, condemned the circumstances surrounding the pupil’s death and appealed to the government to ensure that the family receives justice.
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