Police Constable Fatally Shoots Driver Amid Kampala Traffic Dispute

Charles Bahati, a police constable from the Very Important Persons Protection Unit (VIPPU) has shot and killed a driver for allegedly refusing to give way to a security van. The deceased has been identified as Julius Ssemwaka, who was driving a mini truck carrying Jerry cans (registration number UAX 640C) along Sezibwa Road, near the Sheraton Hotel in Kampala at approximately 4:00 PM.

According to Joseph Musa, a Boda-boda rider who witnessed the shooting, the officer was on a police patrol with other officers. Musa stated that the officers appeared to be in a hurry and ordered the vehicles in front to give way.

The van was unable to move due to a traffic jam, leading to a heated exchange between the driver and the officers. Musa explained that the driver tried to explain that he couldn’t move because of the jam, but one of the police officers jumped out of the patrol vehicle and shot the driver once.

Immediately after the shooting, the officer fled the scene, despite his colleagues’ attempts to apprehend him. “He took off on a Boda-boda with his gun after his two colleagues jumped out of the patrol vehicle to try and arrest him,” Musa said. “The other officers then jumped back into the patrol vehicle and sped away.”

Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke confirmed that a search operation for PC Bahati has been intensified. “Our officer fled the scene with his weapon and is currently at large,” Rusoke said. “We have also launched an investigation into this unfortunate incident.”

This incident is not the first involving security personnel misbehaving toward civilians or colleagues on the roads. In January 2022, a UPDF soldier shot Constable Robert Mukebezi when he found him towing a military vehicle involved in an accident.