By Robert Muhereza

Police in Rukiga District in Western Uganda are investigating a case in which two people were on Friday shot dead by a Rwandan soldier on anti-smuggling mission.
The Kigezi regional police commander, Mr Richard Ecega identified the deceased as John Batista Kyerengye, a resident of Nkoma cell, Ntabarwe parish in the Rwandan district of Nyakatere and Alex Nyesiga, 32 and resident of Nyakabungo cell, Kyabuhangwa parish in Kamwezi Sub County, Rukiga District.

Mr Ecega said he had already sent for the police surgeon to do post-mortem before the bodies are handed over to the relatives for burial.
The LCIII chairman for Kamwezi Sub County, Mr Tedson Niwagaba told Daily Monitor that the shooting happened on Friday at about 8pm at Habusavu trading centre located about 50 meters away from the Uganda-Rwanda international boundary.

“The Rwandan soldier crossed the borderline pursuing a suspected smuggler carrying a bale of second-hand clothes on a motorcycle from Uganda. The suspected smuggler parked the motorcycle on the Ugandan side and disappeared. The soldier who was pursuing him tried to impound the motorcycle but was intercepted by residents who had gathered in attempt to stop him,” said Mr Niwagaba who also heads the Sub County security committee.

Mr Niwagaba added that: “He shot at them and ran back to Rwanda. The Rwandan national died on spot because he was shot in the head while the Ugandan died on the way to Kamwezi Health Centre IV because of over bleeding. He was shot in the thigh.” 
He said their bodies were taken to Kamwezi Health Centre IV for autopsy.

Gruesome pictures of the victims have been circulating on WhatsApp and other social media platforms since last night.

Uganda police on Saturday issued a statement condemning the incident and said there was no justification for the illegal entry and use of deadly force by the Rwandan soldier.

Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug