By Solomon Hamala
IGANGA
Police in Iganga have arrested a man who last year on 16th December shot dead a 17 year old student.
The suspect, Awali Katanego, a resident of Bugweri district was arrested over the weekend at the deceased’s home where he is believed to have voluntarily gone to ask for forgiveness.
However, the angry family members instead alerted police who quickly rushed to the scene and arrested him.
A close family source said the deceased first offered the father of the deceased Shs3 million who however rejected following advice from other relatives.
Joel Mukama, a senior three student at Nakalama Secondary School was shot dead as he attempted to save his father from being beaten by occupants of the FUSO lorry that was heading towards Busia from Kampala after it had earlier knocked one of his cows.
The father of the deceased, Moses Kalogo tried to resist being taken to Iganga central police to record a statement after the driver of the FUSO lorry loaded with maize insisted he should bear costs of repairing his vehicle that had been damaged after it knocked one of his cows as he tried to take them across the road to graze.
The deceased’s mother, Irene Namyalo who witnessed as her son was being shot dead said one of the occupants in the FUSO lorry jumped out before pulling out a pistol and killing her son instantly.
Namyalo said the driver of the FUSO lorry drove away leaving the armed man alone who then walked along the main highway for over 100 meters before boarding a motorcycle.
“We feared to raise an alarm fearing that the man would later shoot us also,” she said.
Surprisingly the incident happened just a few meters from the traffic police check point at Nakalama trading center along the main Iganga to Busia highway.
The LC 3 chairman Nakalama sub county, Kawanguzi urged government help install regular police patrols along the main highway reduce on cases of armed robbery.
“Many people are losing their properties to armed thugs who stage road blocks especially during late night hours,” he said.
The LC one chairman Busei B village, Kozan Waiswa said the deceased heard his father shouting at the top of his voice demanding an explanation as to why he was being taken to police and quickly rushed to the scene with a big stick only to be shot dead on arrival at the scene.
The Police Spokesman Busoga East, Diana Nandawula said the accused is to soon appear before court to answer charges of murder.
Nandawula said investigations are underway establish the whereabouts of the gun used in the murder of the student.
A bullet shell recovered at the scene of the shooting was proved to be that of a pistol according to police ballistic experts.
