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A security guard identified only as Balaam lost his life in a shooting incident that unfolded at Serene Woods Bar in Bulindo, Kira Division, Wakiso District. The shooter was identified as Corporal Colbert Jawiambe, a soldier attached to the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) 1st Infantry Division in Kakiri, according to Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson.
The incident occurred in the early hours of March 2, 2024, around 4:00 am, following a dispute between Jawiambe and a waiter over a balance of sh6,000 at the bar, as reported by Onyango. Subsequently, Jawiambe, who was on duty guarding a nearby construction site, armed himself with an SMG rifle loaded with live ammunition.
Upon his return to the bar, Jawiambe was confronted by the bouncer, Balaam, leading to a confrontation that turned fatal when shots were fired, fatally injuring Balaam. Jawiambe then fled the scene with the weapon used in the shooting, while Balaam was rushed to Najeera Hospital for treatment and later transferred to Mulago Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
Jawiambe later surrendered himself to the Police along with the firearm, containing live ammunition, and was subsequently rearrested and transferred to Kira Police Station for further investigation. The investigation into the matter is ongoing, with a team of officers conducting inquiries and gathering evidence at the scene.
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At the time of reporting, the army had not issued a statement regarding the shooting incident. The tragic event adds to the concerning trend of violent crimes in Uganda, as highlighted by the 2023 Annual Crime Report, which cited factors such as land disputes, infidelity, mob justice, family conflicts, and business rivalries as leading causes of murders reported by the Uganda Police Force.
Internal Affairs Minister Maj. Gen. (Rtd) Kahinda Otafiire acknowledged the involvement of former law enforcement personnel and individuals with knowledge of firearms in orchestrating shootings across the country, underscoring the need for decisive action to address the underlying factors contributing to such violence.
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