Masaka Bar Shooting: Toddler Dead, Two Injured in Officer-In-Charge's Alleged Gunfire

Tragedy struck in Masaka District when a two-year-old boy, identified as Ashiraf Mbazira, lost his life due to a gunshot wound sustained at a bar in Ndeeba-Lwagulwe Village. Two other individuals, Ashiraf’s mother Aisha Kisakyamukama and local resident Gerald Kiweewa, were also injured in the incident and are receiving medical care.

The chaos reportedly began when a group of rowdy youths, returning from a karaoke event, stormed the bar, allegedly engaging in theft and assaults. The Officer in Charge (OC) of security at the establishment, Willy Ogwal, intervened by firing his gun.

Ogwal maintains he fired into the air to disperse the unruly crowd, asserting he was attempting to prevent a suspected phone thief from being lynched. However, stray bullets tragically hit the toddler, killing him instantly, and wounding the other two victims.

Local leaders, including Kyesiiga Sub-County Chairperson Mikidadi Lusiiba, have expressed their dismay and called for enhanced security measures in public spaces. Lusiiba urged bar owners to employ professional security personnel to manage crowds effectively.

Officer Ogwal has been arrested and is currently in police custody assisting with investigations. While Ogwal cites intervention in a mob justice situation as his reason for firing, some local residents have suggested the shooting may have stemmed from a personal dispute involving a woman present at the bar.

Further details are pending an official statement from the Southern Region Police Spokesperson.