A police officer assigned to guard the home of a senior government official in eastern Uganda shot and killed a suspected intruder in the early hours of Saturday, authorities reported.
The incident occurred around 3:00am at a residence in Bugunduhira B Village, Dabani Sub-county, Busia District. According to police, the shooting followed a suspected break-in attempt.
The house belongs to John Mulimba, Uganda’s State Minister for Regional Affairs. It remains uncertain whether the minister was at this residence or at his main home in Bulumbi at the time.
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Busia District Police Commander Alice Kuka said the deceased, believed to be between 22 and 25 years old, is suspected to have been involved in a string of recent burglaries in the area.
“We believe the suspect was linked to a wave of house break-ins reported in Bugunduhira,” Kuka said, noting that burglary tools were recovered at the scene.
Initial findings indicate the man scaled the property’s perimeter wall and attempted to enter the home. The on-duty officer noticed the intruder and opened fire as he tried to escape, fatally wounding him near the fence.
Local council leader Rajab Wanjofu confirmed that criminals had earlier broken into a neighboring home, stealing cash and a television. He added this marked the third time the minister’s residence had been targeted. In a previous incident, thieves reportedly stole a TV and UGX 1.5 million.
Eyewitnesses said several other suspected accomplices fled as shots were fired, indicating the dead man may have been part of a larger group.
Paul Nyongesa, a resident, said gunfire woke him in the night. “Later, we learned someone had been shot at the minister’s home,” he told Monitor.
Police are investigating whether the incident was a routine burglary or if other motives were involved.
As of Saturday evening, the body had been transported to Masafu Government Hospital for a postmortem examination.
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