MASAKA — The shooting incident in Masaka Town on Friday, May 8, 2020 where three people lost their lives was due to a love affair gone bad, authorities have confirmed.
According to police, Private Robert Miyaga shot dead his lover Jacqueline Asasira and Edward Musaasizi, the chairperson of Lutovu Village in Lwengo district, whom he suspected to be having an affair with her.
Miyaga was also shot dead by UPDF soldiers after he refused to come out of a lodge in Ssenyange zone, Masaka municipality where he hid moments after the attack.
Mr Muhammad Nsubuga, the Southern Regional police spokesperson, said before the incident, Miyaga trailed Musaasizi, who was riding a motorcycle up to Byansi clinic in Masaka town where Asasira was receiving treatment.
According to the incident which is caught on CCTV camera, Musaasizi comes to the clinic and finds an armed Miyaga at the entrance while Asasira is inside.
The two men are seen exchanging greetings. Then Asasira comes out of the clinic and climbs on the boda boda of Musaasizi as the two are ready to ride away.
However, a verbal exchange appears to be taking place between Muyiga and Asasira. Muyiga then moves closer and shoots his lover and the rider before fleeing the scene.
Major Flavia Terimulungi, the spokesperson of the UPDF armoured Brigade in Masaka, said the army killed the officer in their pursuit to arrest him after committing the crime.
She explained that he was shot after failing to surrender to the soldiers who went to arrest him.
According to Terimulungi, upon identifying his hideout, the soldiers asked Miyaga to get out of the lodge in vain. A number of teargas canisters were thrown inside his room but triggered no response from him.
“He had also become dangerous because he could do anything including gun violence against our soldiers,” she noted.
According to eye witnesses, the soldiers broke into the lodge through the roof before shooting at the deceased.
Brig Richard Karemire, the army spokesperson, said investigations into the incident are underway.