A 21-year-old Uganda Christian University (UCU) student is fighting for her life in hospital after being shot by a police officer whose house she mistook for her boyfriend’s in the early hours of Saturday morning.
Natasha Nagayi was allegedly shot by ASP Dismas Tebangole of the VIPPU Counter Terrorism Unit.
The incident occurred at around 1 a.m., at the Nabuti Village, Mukono Central Division, Mukono Municipality, Mukono District.
ASP Tebangole, 57, is said to have spotted someone attempting to access his front entrance at 4 a.m. He peered through the window and seen someone using a key to open the door.
“In a state of suspicion, the officer discharged three live bullets through the window glass, hitting Nagayi Natasha on the right chest, near the lower armpit. Upon being shot, the victim fell to the ground and cried out for help, asserting that she was not a thief.”
She specifically mentioned the name Bandishe Ashraf, one of the tenants residing in the suspect’s residence. The caretaker of the residence, Ssengendo Hanington, along with other neighbours, responded to the scene.
Nagayi had been hanging out with her boyfriend, Ashraf Bandishe, according to police.
“Ashraf had given her the key to the house so she could rest while he stayed behind.” “However, she inadvertently opened the officer’s room, which is directly opposite Ashraf’s room, resulting in the unfortunate shooting incident,” ASP Owoyesgyire stated.
ASP Tebangole is being held by police, while Nagayi is being treated at Kawolo General Hospital in Buikwe District.
“The response Police team recovered a pistol with 12 rounds of live ammunition from the suspect,” a police spokeswoman stated.
