The Minister for Internal Affairs, Gen. Kahinda Otafiire, has expressed regret over the six suspects shot dead by security operatives during an alleged foiled robbery at Acacia Mall in Kololo, Kampala, on Monday.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament this afternoon, Otafiire condemned the killings, saying he has already spoken to the Inspector General of Police, Abbas Byakagaba, and requested a report on the incident. He assured that those responsible will be held accountable.
“Under no circumstances should a Ugandan be executed. I regret that these six Ugandans were gunned down on mere suspicion,” Otafiire said.
He added, “We must ensure arrests and detentions are backed by solid evidence. Don’t arrest anybody until you are satisfied with the facts.”
The minister’s comments followed MPs voicing their disapproval of the police’s actions during the incident.
MP Theodore Ssekikubo questioned the justification for using lethal force: “These six Ugandans were gunned down by the police under suspicion of robbery, but how sure were they? There needs to be a clear process before such drastic measures are taken.”
Meanwhile, according to the police, the group had been involved in multiple robberies in the Kampala Metropolitan area, typically targeting individuals withdrawing large sums of money from banks, surrounding them, and robbing them. Police reported that the gang used machetes to threaten victims.
Though the operation was applauded by some, a section of Ugandans questioned why the operatives decided to kill the suspects, as many claim the suspects were unarmed.
