Police Break Silence On Deceased Minister Charles Engola Who Was Shot Dead By His Bodyguard
Police have confirmed the death of State Minister for Labour Col(Rtd) Charles Engola Macodwogo who was shot by his bodyguard on Tuesday morning at his home in Kyanja.
According to eyewitnesses, the UPDF bodyguard went on a shooting spree, shouting his grievances.
“The man kept on shouting on the streets while shooting “….I work for a whole minister and yet I’m broke..” comedian Patrick Idringi also known as Salvador tweeted.
The bodyguard targeted the minister as he left home for work after shooting two of his fellow UPDF guards who were severely injured.
The armed UPDF guard would later turn the gun onto the minister as he boarded his official vehicle to work and later turned the gun on himself.
“This morning we registered a tragic incident that occurred in Kyanja. We would like to confirm that Col(Rtd) Charles Engola was shot dead while entering his vehicle to go for work. The shooting was done by one of his bodyguards at his residence in Kyanja who fired several shots at close range,” Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said on Tuesday morning.
Enanga said that after shooting the minister at close range and killing him instantly, the bodyguard then fled the scene to the nearby trading centre along Kyanja ring road where he entered the salon and shot himself dead.
Enanga said the Police Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj Gen Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi and the Criminal Investigations Director, AIGP Tom Magambo have rushed to the scene.
The police spokesperson confirmed the deceased shooter as Private Wilson Sabiti who also injured the minister’s aide-de-camp(ADC), Lt Ronald Otim and another unnamed guard to the minister.
“The investigation is currently in the early stages of review and to this, we have dispatched crime scene experts using the most advanced forensic technology to get what was the cause of this tragic murder”
Whereas eyewitnesses said the soldier was yelling that he had not been paid for a long time, the police spokesperson said it is too early to speculate.
”The motive of the murder has not yet been established. The investigation is currently in the early stages of review, with CID and forensic experts, already documenting the scene. The DIGP and a team of Directors have visited the scene and extended heartfelt condolences to the immediate family, friends and relatives” Enanga noted.
According to an eyewitness, after killing his boss, the deceased UPDF soldier stormed out of the minister’s residence while shooting in the air.
“He ran out of the gate shooting in the air prompting everyone to run for their dear life. The soldier later ran to a nearby salon which was open and it is there that he shot himself dead. He sat in one of the salon’s chairs and pointed the gun to his neck before finishing himself off,” a neighbour to the deceased’s minister said.
A builder at a nearby building site confirmed that when the shooting spree began, everyone scampered for their dear lives.
“All the nearby shops were closed and only the salon had one door open. After entering the salon, in a few minutes, we realized blood was flowing from inside,” he said.
Another eyewitness said, “The soldier came shouting that he did not have a problem with civilians. His only problem was with the government not paying him his money. He first tried to enter a supermarket but the people locked themselves inside. This is when he went towards the salon…”
The deceased minister last made a public appearance on Monday during the International Labour Day celebrations in Namutumba district.
Additional Reporting By Nilepost
