Justine Nyakaisiki | Tayari
FORT PORTAL– Residents of Fort Portal city were thrown into panic on Friday evening after a security guard attached to GT Expert Security Group, identified as Paul Mutazindwa, went on a shooting spree that paralysed businesses and traffic, forcing people to flee for safety.
Mutazindwa was later shot dead following a gunfire exchange with security personnel from the Uganda Police Force and the Uganda People’s Defence Force.
The incident happened at the GT Expert Security Group, Rwenzori regional offices located along Kiboga Road in Fort Portal City, at around 10:30 p.m.
According to Vincet Twesige, the Police Spokesperson for Rwenzori West, Mutazindwa began firing shots at around 5:30 p.m, prompting a security response that later neutralised him.
Twesige told journalists that a police officer stationed in Fort Portal, identified as Duncan Bainomugisha, was shot dead by the guard. He added that five other security personnel were rescued, while two suspects were arrested to assist with investigations.
“From 5:30, he was shooting, and he ended up killing a police officer by the name of Duncan Bainomugisha, one of the first six responders at the scene and the remaining five were rescued, although at around 10:30 pm, the security guard was put out of action because he refused to surrender,” Twesige notes.
Some residents who spoke to our reporter described the incident as shocking and alleged that the suspect was demanding his bosses, which they believe may have triggered the shooting. Two individuals were arrested by police to help in investigations.
“We are still investigating, and the ones we have arrested will help us in investigations because, good thing their company has cameras, and we have the experts that will find out about the motive,” said Twesige.
The bodies of the two deceased were taken to the mortuary at Fort Portal Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem examinations as investigations continue. Efforts by our reporter to get a comment from GT security were futile as the known contacts could not be reached by press time.