Simon Katuramu, one of the candidates in the race for the Mbarara youth Member of Parliament has on Tuesday afternoon been shot in the stomach.

Reports suggest that Simon Katuramu, who is also a lecturer at Metropolitan University, was allegedly shot by counter-terrorism police officers attached to Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) Weigh Bridge Station in Koranorya in Mbarara city.

The Rwizi Region Police Spokesman Samson Kasasira, says Katuramu was shot while traveling in a lorry that was carrying iron sheets.

He and other occupants were stopped by the police, but they refused. The police then fired shots at the car tyres to bring the lorry to a stop, and in the process, one of the bullets hit Katuramu in the chest.

“Today Tuesday 18.8.2020 at around 0420hrs, one Mugume Andrew, 48, vice-chairperson LC1 Kacence west cell, Kakiika ward, Mbarara city reported to CPS [central police station] Mbarara, a case of attempted murder by shooting of one Katuramu Simon, 26 by suspected counter-terrorism police officers attached to UNRA Weigh Bridge station in Koranorya, Mbarara,” the police spokesman said.

“It’s alleged that motor vehicle FUSO LORRY UBF 109D loaded with iron sheets was stopped at the weighbridge and the driver refused to stop. Police officers and other UNRA staff pursued the vehicle while shooting at the tyres and in air. Along the way (Bypass Road), the victim after being shot in the chest, jumped out of the lorry, crawled to a neighbour who took him to Mbarara Hospital for treatment.”

Police say it arrived at the scene on getting a report that a lorry along Mbarara-Ntungamo Road (Bypass) was parked with a dead body inside.

Kasasira added that they found the dead body’s head “shattered head due to gunshots”. The deceased has been identified as Saturday Ivan Bimanyirwoha from Rukungiri District.

Katuramu told police that the lorry was occupied by four people but when he told the driver to stop, he refused.

Two occupants – the lorry driver and his turn man – are still missing and a team of detectives and Flying Squad has proceeded to Mbarara Weigh Bridge Station to arrest the Counter-Terrorism officers and UNRA Staff who were involved.