- Friday, April 26, 2024
By: Shubham Ghosh
In a shocking incident, a 39-year-old Indian money-lender was shot dead by a policeman carrying a stolen assault rifle in Kampala in Uganda last week over a loan of 2.1 million (£450) Ugandan Shilling.
According to reports, the accused policeman identified as Ivan Wabwire, who was off duty, opened fire with an AK-47 rifle at the money lender named Uttam Bhandari. The incident happened on Friday (12). Wabwire, 30, was arrested.
This happened in Uganda🇺🇬 pic.twitter.com/la1S9YbPEQ
— Independent Forensic Investigation Unit (@ForensicsZA) May 13, 2023
The incident was recorded on a CCTV installed in the room where the policeman shot the Indian man and its chilling footage went viral on social media. The video showed Wabwire firing multiple bullets at Bhandari from close range. There were other people who ran away in fear and Wabwire returned once again to fire again at Bhandari who was lying on the floor and was still alive.
According to the police, Bhandari was the director of a financial service and Wabwire was his client.
It was reported that the two men had an argument over the amount Wabwire owed to the firm. According to one report, when the policeman was told about the loan amount, he started arguing with Bhandari, saying the figure was inflated.
Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango told Uganda’s Daily Monitor that Wabwire left his AK-47 rifle and fled after shooting Bhandari. Thirteen cartridges were recovered from the crime scene by the police.
Wabwire reportedly has a history of mental instability and was banned from possessing a firearm five years ago after getting admitted to hospital twice over mental breakdown, the police said.
He was being held at a police station in eastern Uganda.
It was also reported that he stole the gun from a fellow police officer and roommate.
Uganda’s deputy inspector general of police Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi later met the local Indian community and assured them of safety, Nile Post reported.
