King Broadcasting Services (KBS 93.6 FM) news anchor Gerald Asera was shot dead on Tuesday night by a private security guard in Masindi town who suspected him of being a thief.
KAMPALA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — A private security guard in Masindi town allegedly shot dead Gerald Asera, a news anchor at Kings Broadcasting Services (KBS 93.6 FM) on Tuesday night after suspecting him to be a thief.
- The police were called to action after the incident and responded immediately, said Allan Hakiza, a police spokesperson for the Albertine Region.
- The Masindi police, however, have arrested and detained Simon Ekou, a 38-year-old security guard employed by Blue Whale security company Limited.
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The police in Masindi, following the sad news, have arrested and detained Simon Ekou, a 38-year-old security guard of Blue Whale security company Limited.
However, close sources indicate that on June 1, 2022, at around 0030/c, the suspect, while armed and on normal duty at a Coca Cola Depot Masindi, saw the victim identified as Asera Gerald and gained entry through the main entrance that has no gate.
The victim allegedly went straight to where cartons of sodas were and picked four of them; however, as he was leaving, the guard shot him in the chest.
Allan Hakiza, the police spokesperson for the Albertine Region, confirmed they responded immediately after the incident and took the victim to Masindi hospital.
Hakiza however, revealed the victim succumbed to injuries upon reaching the hospital.
“Unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries. A team of officers visited the scene of the crime and recovered the rifle number UG. PSO21008209637 and three rounds of ammunition from the suspect. These have been exhibited,” Hakiza said the private guard is currently being detained as further investigations into the matter have commenced.
This is, however, one of the many incidents that have happened of private security guards shooting at civilians or even their colleagues in the country.
Notably, on July 7th 2021, the police in the Kiira region arrested a security guard for allegedly shooting and injuring a 27-year-old man identified as Ivan Maali, a resident of Lubas road in Southern division, Jinja city accusing him of theft.
Another similar incident happened on April 16th 2020, after Dan Okello, a guard at Energo Site located at Kigogwa, Goma Sub-county, in Wakiso allegedly shot at one Muhammad Katende and later abandoned his gun at the crime scene.
These and many others included one that was registered in 2019 at Nalubwama Arcade on Ben Kiwanuka Street in Kampala when a guard opened fire at civilians, killing a woman who was on a motorcycle and also injuring a Kampala University student.
