Four police constables attached to Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) have been suspended for shooting and injuring a student during an operation against street vendors.
Loenah Rachael Nankya, 14, a student Naalya SS Lugazi was hit with a rubber bullet in the mouth, making her lose at least three teeth.
At around 1 pm on Tuesday, police fired several rubber bullets to save the KCCA enforcement team that was being surrounded by angry vendors resisting the arrest of one of their colleagues and confiscation of their merchandise.
Nankya was injured in the ensuing chaos outside Old Taxi and Mini Price. Nankya’s mother also sustained injuries on the arm while another man identified as Jimmy was also hit by two rubber bullets on his leg.
Lusoke Kitumwa, the commandant of all police officers attached to KCCA vowed to penalize all the officers who were involved in the shooting of the victims. Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango, says that the four officers have stepped aside to allow smooth investigations.
Kitumwa has since instructed the head of KCCA Criminal Investigations Department ASP Benson Waitumu, to speed up the investigations. Nankya was rushed to Mulago hospital where she is still receiving treatment.
The incident comes a week after Inspector General of Police Martin Ochola, ordered the withdrawal of 261 personnel attached to KCCA installations and directors.u.r.n