Police are investigating a suspected murder case following a shooting in the early hours of Sunday, April 7, around 1:30 a.m.
The tragic event occurred at Munyonyo Roundabout, near Kagwa Bridge, Entebbe Expressway, Makindye Sabagabo, Wakiso District, according to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango .
According to Onyango, the victim, identified as Francis Masembe, 34, from Kajjansi, Wakiso district, lost his life after suffering a gunshot wound.
An altercation began around 12:30 a.m. when Masembe, accompanied by his wife Eunice Orishaba, a sister Sarah Wanyana and family friend Godfrey Odeke, stopped at the side of the road with their motorbikes.
They were reportedly considering how to safely transport a drunken Masembe home.
“The situation took a tragic turn when an occupant of a black BMW with registration UBM 300M, later identified as Isaac Ssali, accused them of being thieves,” Onyango said.
A brief confrontation ensued, during which Ssali allegedly fired a fatal shot at Masembe, leading to his death upon arrival at Kiruddu Hospital.
According to Onyango, police quickly responded to the scene, where detectives conducted an investigation and recovered the murder weapon. Ssali was then arrested.
Eyewitness accounts, including that of Masembe’s sister Wanyana, revealed that the deceased was intoxicated and had a disagreement with his wife before the altercation. It was also reported that the suspect had an argument with Masembe.
In addition, 12 live ammunition cartridges were recovered from the scene.
According to Onyango, the deceased’s wife, Orishaba, attested to Masembe’s intoxicated state, stating that he was unable to continue riding his motorbike, which led to their stopping at the side of the road before the fatal encounter.
Further examination indicated that the projectile remained lodged in Masembe’s body. The suspect presented a firearm certificate according to the ongoing investigation.
