A police officer is being hunted by authorities in Kampala after he allegedly shot and killed an Indian money lender at Raja Chambers along Parliamentary Avenue.
KAMPALA, UGANDA | NOW THEN DIGITAL — Police in Kampala are currently searching for a police constable, Ivan Wabwire, who is wanted for murder after allegedly shooting and killing Indian money lender, Uttam Bhandari, at Raja Chambers along Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala.
The victim was identified as the director of TFS Financial Services, an Indian national.
The victim, Uttam Bhandari, was the director of TFS Financial Services. The shooter has been identified as No. 67029 Police Constable (PC) Ivan Wabwire.
Loan dispute leads to fatal shooting
According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, Wabwire had been servicing two loans from the victim’s company since 2020. The first loan was deducted directly from his salary, while the second was not.
On Thursday, Wabwire reportedly met with Bhandari to verify the amount he owed the company and to obtain calculations for the bank.
However, when he was told the amount, he became incensed and argued that it was inflated, ultimately leading to the fatal shooting.
Eyewitness accounts reveal that Wabwire first shot at the CCTV cameras inside the office before fleeing on a boda boda bike and abandoning the AK47 murder weapon at Central Police Station in Kampala.
Bhandari’s body was taken to Mulago City mortuary as investigations continue.
Police vow to track down the fugitive officer
Despite Wabwire’s escape, the police spokesperson has vowed to track down the fugitive officer.
“Uganda is very small when you have committed a crime. He will be got at any time. It’s very unfortunate that an officer of that caliber would resort to shooting instead of resolving the matter amicably,” Onyango said.
Recent spate of fatal shootings
This recent shooting is not the first in Kampala in recent days. On May 2, 2023, State Minister for Labour Col (rtd) Charles Okello Engola was shot by his bodyguard, Pte Wilson Sabiiti, at his home in Kyanja, a Kampala suburb. Pte Sabiiti committed suicide after the shooting.
Additionally, on May 6, popular Ugandan vlogger Ibrahim Tusubira, also known as Jjajja Ichuli or Isma Olaxxes, was shot dead by unknown persons as he returned home in Kyanja, a Kampala suburb.
I wonder what Uganda Police will say about this brutal 🤧🤧🤧😢😢so sad @Ugandapolice1 https://t.co/5WmcPjEhJr
— Abubaker S Orignal (@Abusengz) May 12, 2023
Another person shot dead in Kampala.
A money lender at Jubilee house near Parliament.@SalamTvUG @CharitySalam pic.twitter.com/zYxTF9xT2C— Twaha Mukiibi (@mukiibi_twaha) May 12, 2023
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