Two killed in Uganda protests

At least two gunshot victims were confirmed dead by 1pm (local time) Friday as bloody rioting engulfed parts of Uganda.

The protests were reported in the capital Kampala, its suburbs as well as five other towns, including Entebbe and Mbale.

First Son Lt. Col. Kainerugaba Muhoozi, commander of the elite Special Forces Group, personally took charge in the restive downtown Kisekka Market, from where soldiers expelled journalists or blocked those who stayed around from photographing their action.

By early afternoon, police had recorded 123 casualties and named one of the dead as Samuel Mufumbira, a vendor at the city’s St. Balikuddembe (Owino) Market, shot in the head.

A police officer was among the 84 registered at a medical facility by 12:30pm, many having sustained gunshot wounds. Children and women were among the victims.

Daily Monitor reporter Justus Lyatuu said a policeman was making entries of the casualties’ particulars in a record book, but had no clue how many were dead.

Unconfirmed reports indicated at least four people had died, although the figure could be higher.

Congested market

Earlier reports said three men were shot dead in downtown Kampala and one taken to Mulago Hospital in critical condition after suffering gunshot wounds.
His legs were shattered, said a witness. Four other people suffocated by teargas, collapsed and were rushed to hospital.

“There are many injured people here, but I don’t have the figure of how many are injured or dead. We are too busy now,” said Mulago Hospital Spokesman Dan Kimosho.

The shootings occurred in Katwe, Owino and the Old Taxi Park. Bloody chaos flared up in that congested market due to agitation over earlier arrest of some of the vendors there.

Jinja Road was blocked at Kireka outskirt and a police teargas vehicle vandalised by an angry mob in the area. Other accounts indicated the riots erupted at around 10am following reports that opposition leader Kizza Besigye had died after his family was refused to fly him abroad for treatment.

Angry mobs started burning tyres in the middle of the highway and were stopping every car at Kireka, and pelting drivers who sped past.
Security forces moved in firing teargas and live ammunition while some police men were seen exploding the irritant inside people’s houses, forcing them out on the streets where they were promptly arrested and beaten.

The demonstrations also erupted at Makaerere University where students engaged in attack-and-withdraw fight. It is said some police moved to lob teargas canisters into students’ halls of residence.