Police officer killed by teargas canister

Mukono. A Field Force Unit Officer attached to Mukono police division has died after being hit by a teargas canister from his gun. Corporal Augustine Tukwasibwe met his death at the Mukono FFU detach near Mukono magistrates court on Thursday afternoon.    

The Deputy Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson, Luke Oweyesigyire told URN that they were still gathering information about the incident. However, a police officer told URN on condition of anonymity that Tukwasibwe had just returned from routine patrol for lunch when the incident happened. 

“We reached the tent where we get food from and it was not ready. As we were still waiting for lunch, we received an emergency call and in the process of rushing the officer fired the canister,” he said. He explains that they all ducked for cover leaving Tukwasibwe puzzled.

He explains that the canister burst within a few minutes later and the fragments hit the deceased in the chest and in the neck killing him instantly. Tukwasibwe has been one of the commanders patrolling the areas to prevent demonstrations by National Unity Platform-NUP and opposition supporters against the January 14th presidential election results.

Since Monday, joint security forces comprising the police, army and local defence unit-LDU officers have been patrolling various trading centers within the district believed to be hotspots for the protests. Jamiiru Musiige, a resident of Mukono town is worried that residents may lose their lives if officers like the deceased can’t manage the weapons under their control.