Boda boda driver fatally shot during Ndejje cleaning enforcement

A 38-year-old individual, who worked as a motorcycle taxi driver, tragically lost his life on Saturday morning in Kanaaba, Ndejje, within Makindye-Ssabagabo, during an enforcement operation by police for the second National Cleaning Day. He was fatally shot.

The deceased, identified as Ronald Kizito Jjuuko, was reportedly shot around 7 am by Allan Okello, an officer stationed at the Ndejje police post. This incident occurred as security personnel in the area began enforcing a directive that mandated public participation in a three-hour cleaning activity.

Local residents stated that Jjuuko was riding towards his residence when he encountered police officers who were enforcing the movement restrictions. Hassan Ssezi, a resident of Kanaaba-Ndejje, mentioned that Jjuuko seemingly did not notice the officers until he had already passed their position.

Ssezi recounted that the officers were not easily visible from their standing point. He explained that Jjuuko had ridden a few meters beyond them when the officer fired a shot from behind, causing him to hit a road barricade.

Ssezi indicated that Jjuuko appeared to have worked throughout the previous night and was on his way home before the movement limitations for the cleaning exercise took effect.

Furthermore, residents made accusations that some officers assigned to the Ndejje police post had previously demonstrated behavior they described as unpredictable and intoxicated.

Jjuuko’s remains were transported to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination.

Rachel Kawala, the spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan Police, announced that an investigation had commenced to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the shooting. This inquiry aims to determine whether the use of force was justifiable and if the officer adhered to established police protocols.

The shooting incident took place just hours after police had issued a warning, stating their intention to implement strict measures against individuals who violated movement restrictions during the second National Cleaning Day.

In an official statement released on Friday, police spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma urged the public to cooperate with the security personnel assigned to enforce the directive and to avoid any confrontations.

Kituuma strongly advised members of the public to collaborate with security personnel enforcing the directive and to refrain from confrontations, arguments, or any form of altercation, cautioning that such conflicts could lead to the use of force and subsequent arrests.

In contrast to the initial National Cleaning Day on July 26, when police primarily halted motorists and only a few instances of officers reportedly compelling civilians to clean were noted, security agencies had forewarned that enforcement for Saturday’s exercise would be more rigorous.

Police maintained that their officers were deployed to uphold public order and safeguard lives and property, but emphasized that any application of force must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate.

The police force has also reiterated that firearms and other forms of force must be employed in strict adherence to the law, established operational guidelines, and the specific circumstances prevailing at the time.

One might question which nation permits military-enforced exercises for city street cleaning. There appears to be no justification for armed police officers to compel citizens to clean themselves and their properties in the impoverished African nation of Uganda. If there are insufficient taxpayer funds to clean Uganda, it is puzzling why there is ample money to cover the extremely high expenses of the current government.

This situation is characteristic of a military dictatorship under an 86-year-old figure, described as an “African problem,” such as General Tibuhaburwa: innocent citizens are killed during military-enforced National Cleaning Days.

For example, those old enough to recall Amin’s era of terror and murder (from January 25, 1971, to April 1979) would remember a similar militarily enforced cleaning day called “Keep Uganda Clean.” The author specifically recalls this because Friday, a day for Juma Prayer for Muslims, was declared a regular public holiday akin to Sunday for Christians, and a monthly two-hour decree (3-5:00 pm) was established for Thursdays.

Consequently, any adult or civil servant visiting town was obligated to participate in this exercise. The author’s father, despite being on early retirement due to a medical condition, had to carry a slasher or broom whenever he went to Gulu town.