Busia Leaders and Family Demand Justice as Slain Pupil is Laid to Rest

An emotional atmosphere gripped Buhobe Village in Bulumbi Sub-county, Busia District, as residents and mourners gathered to lay to rest Dominic Wejuli, a primary school pupil whose life was tragically cut short. Wejuli was shot dead by a UPDF soldier attached to a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) anti-smuggling operation at Buhobe Trading Centre.

Classmates, teachers, and local leaders voiced their anger and sorrow during the funeral. Joan Taaka, a classmate of the deceased, remembered him as a disciplined, humble, and hardworking boy who had nothing to do with smuggling. She joined calls for the perpetrator to face immediate arrest and prosecution.

Busia District Chairman John Charles Namayindi strongly condemned the incident, criticizing the enforcement unit for what he termed brutality during operations. While acknowledging the necessity of tax enforcement, Namayindi questioned the reckless use of firearms and vehicles against civilians, demanding full accountability from the authorities.

The grieving father, Samson Oguttu, shared his devastation over losing his only son. He recounted speaking to the boy just a day prior to arrange school fees. According to accounts shared at the funeral, Wejuli had sought shelter in a tea room when the shooting erupted, only to be struck by rounds fired into the building. A postmortem report revealed the boy sustained fatal injuries to his lungs, throat, and liver.

Legal representatives have condemned the soldiers’ actions, noting that other individuals, including a pregnant woman, were also injured during the operation. The family’s lawyer indicated plans to pursue legal action and seek compensation from the tax body if demands are not met. Meanwhile, independent reports suggest the soldiers involved have been withdrawn to their barracks.

For more details on this developing story, read the original report on Daily Monitor.