A security guard Sunday shot dead a suspected thief who was allegedly stealing an assortment of construction materials from Rest Ville Hotel in Mbale Municipality.

The hotel is owned by former Energy and Mineral Development Minister, Ms Irene Muloni.

Police said that at about 1: 00 am, two thugs who were armed with metals and other breaking tools accessed the construction site.

They opened a container where various building materials like polished tiles, lamps, coffee sets, carpets; among other items, were being kept.

Elgon Region Police Spokesperson, Mr Robert Tukei, identified the deceased as Siraji Wamunga, 50, a peasant of Namatse, Buwangolo Parsh, Mbale District.

Mr Tukei said that another suspect who is a resident of Bugema ‘C’, Bukasakya Sub-county,Mbale District is nursing a bullet wound on the ear, was arrested by a private security guard attached to Real Security Limited.

He said two boxes of tiles were recovered from the injured suspect.

The incident brings the number of suspected thieves who have been shot dead in Mbale town in two weeks, to three.

On December 8, two suspected thugs were shot dead while trying to steal mattresses from Tuuka’s Trading Store on Cathedral Avenue in Mbale town. Daily Monitor