New Delhi/Kampala, May 15 (UNI): An Indian national businessman was shot dead by an Ugandan police officer in Kampala, reports said.
Uttam Bhandari, the Director of TFS Financial Services at Rajja Chambers, was fatally shot by police office PC Ivan Wabwire on Friday after an altercation over returning a loan amount the latter had taken from the Indian.
President Yoweri Museveni on Saturday sent condolences to the family of Bhandari. The Indian High Commission in Kampala conveyed its condolences and thanked the President for arresting the police constable.
It said in a tweet: “HCI Kampala stands with the bereaved Bhandari family and conveys its sincere condolences. Also thank President HE Kaguta Museveni for his condolences and the Ugandan authorities for immediately arresting the culprit involved in this heinous crime.”
Disturbing CCTV video footage has emerged that shows police constable PC Wabwire Ivan first having a conversation with Uttam Bhandari, before firing at him several times. It is reported that the police officer, who has since been arrested, had a loan balance misunderstanding with the bank.
Later in the evening, the Police top leadership together with the Indian Community leaders in Uganda held a crisis meeting in which they were assured of maximum security.
The pledge was made by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Maj. Gen. Geoffrey Tumusiime Katsigazi who emphasized that the shooting should not be regarded as a case of organized or targeted crime, but rather as an isolated incident.
Meanwhile, the Uganda Police Force (UPF) has come under renewed focus after revelations that it knew about the mental health issues of the constable who fatally shot the Indian moneylender at Raja Chambers on Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala.
