Police constable Ivan Bwire the suspect.
Preliminary findings have revealed that the police constable, Ivan Bwire who shot dead the Kampala money leader was in normal and in sound mental condition at the time of the incident and his actions were deliberately, planned prior to the attack.
While addressing journalist in a weekly security press briefing at Naguru based police headquarters in Kampala on Monday15, May, 2023, the police spokesperson CP Fred Enanga said that police doctors have examined Bwire and the results indicated that he was in normal mental conditions and has also accepted the offence.
Enanga also said that Bwire will also be examined by the Psychiatrist to further confirm that he was in sound mind and that whatever he did , he was very much aware and knowing that it was a criminal act after which a judge will also record an extra judicial statement from him and after wards the file will be forward to the DPP for advise.
He also informed reporters that Bwire was arrested at Bwalila in Bumambo parish in Busia district near the board while trying to cross to Kenya side police Flying Squad and the regular police in Busia mounted a search having received the intelligence information from his phone call conversation with a certain lady he was connecting with in Busia and managed to arrest him.
Uttam Bhandari, who was the Director of TFS financial services, was allegedly shot dead by Police Constable Ivan Wabwire last week on Friday at about 9:00 am but it took 3 hours for police to start responding to the incidence which was regrettable.
“ Bwire planned his moves because on the 11th of May, while in civilian clothes met with Mr. Bhandari to establish his loan status and he asked the deceased to allow him trade it off for a salary loan at Stanbic bank William Street Branch where his salary is posted something the victim allegedly declined.’’ Enanga revealed.
He also said that there was no formal agreement between Bwire and the victim, the director of TSF. He said that according to the findings, the culprit had acquired a double loan. He first acquired a loan on the 5th of August 2020 of Shs 1 million carrying an interest of Shs 320,000 so he was supposed to pay shs110, 000 per month for 1 year. Before he could even complete that loan again on the 5th of May 2021, he acquired a second loan of 1 million on similar terms but he defaulted after a period of 3 months.
When they failed to agree on the trade off with the money lender Bhandari, the following day on 12th of May,2023 the culprit in his full uniform picked a rifle with four magazines left his beat at CPS and went straight to meet the Director at Raja Chambers, he even signed in the visitors book very confident and went straight to meet his victim but while in the office he even didn’t sit down. He remained in a standing position with his hand on the gun and after a short verbal exchange with the director he cocked his gun, shot the victim and then moved out.
Shortly, he realized that he had left his phones behind so that’s when he returned and while picking his loan form indicating his loan balance, he noticed that the Indian victim was still breathing so he fired additional shots and killed him instantly.
After the deadly shooting, the suspect confidently moved out, jumped on a boda boda which dropped him at CPS, he returned the gun to CPS office and gave it to Steven Muloba who he request to handle it for having lied to him that he was going for shot call.
.He managed to escape to his village at Bwalila in Bumambo parish in Busia district and our flying squad teams with KMP and the DPC Busia managed to intercept him while trying to cross into Kenya. We want to thank the arresting teams for a job well done.
“ We regret the tragic murder which could have been avoided if PC Stephen Mulomba had not accepted the suspect to take out the gun which he was supposed to have signed out from the armory as per the force policy which dictates that on use of fire arms, the user ought to returned the gun to the Armory before moving out of the station.’’ Enanga regretted.
He further said,“ Without lawful permission Mulomba sneaked out of the station to attend to a personal matter which is an outright case of gross indiscipline and negligence of duty and as a result, he has also been charged in the disciplinary court and dismissed from the force . He is now a civilian and is going to be taken to the criminal court for negligence of duties as a civilian.’’
By George Bukenya