JINJA – Police in Jinja have arrested a security guard for shooting dead a student of Kampala University (KU) Jinja Campus.
The security guard working with Star React Security Guard Limited shot dead Isaac Katagwa, a third-year student pursuing a bachelor’s degree in hotel management, tourism and leisure, on Wednesday evening at the university campus.
Kiira Region Police Spokesperson Diana Nandaula on Thursday said the suspect is detained at Jinja Central Police Station.
She said they are investigating reports that the deceased and the guard had been engaged in a heated argument before the shooting. Ms Nandaula said Katagwa was shot through the back at close range.
“We have so far interrogated the guard and claims that he suspected the deceased was a criminal, but we are still continuing with investigations,” she said.
The victim’s body was taken to Jinja hospital mortuary for post-mortem.
The deceased is said to have just returned from the burial of his father, Christopher Katagwa, last Saturday in Wakitaka Village, Mafubira Sub County in Jinja District.
Incidents of security guards shooting civilians dead are on the rise. In October, a private security guard killed a man visiting his girlfriend at a hostel near Kyambogo University.
Doribert Atwesigye was shot at about 6:30 am after he allegedly attempted to forcibly enter the room, where his girlfriend, Ms Linnet Ainomugisha, a third-year student of Kyambogo University, lives.
In February, Caleb Muhwezi, a guard attached to Swat Security Company, had been deployed at Pioneer building along Ben Kiwanuka street in Kampala when he shot dead one Brendah Bukoye, 36, a resident of Nsambya Railway and wounded another who has been identified as Anita Nanyonjo, a student at Kampala University.