President's guards fatally shoot woman after suspected con man drives into State House

The Police and the Special Forces Command have kicked off investigations into circumstances under which a woman was fatally wounded after a vehicle she was moving in tried to force itself into the State Lodge in Nakasero.

The incident, according to sources, happened on Tuesday when a vehicle being driven by one Shafic Bwanika, alias Shafic Mayanja, drove at a breakneck speed towards one of the entrances to the State Lodge.

“Warnings by the officers at the checkpoint were ignored as the vehicle continued to speed towards them. They shot at the vehicle and unfortunately injured a female occupant,” a source familiar with the matter told the Nile Post on Thursday.

 The story

This website has separately learnt that the genesis of the incident started some months back when one  Joseph Owor  was approached by Bwanika, who introduced himself as a State House employee and that he would help her fly to Canada for a job after paying shs18 million.

It is said that Bwanika first received Shs5 million in February and in March, another  Shs2 million.

Owor  became suspicious after Bwanika started avoiding him, prompting him to report the matter to police .

A trap was laid for Bwanika to meet the suspect at Arua Park for Shs10 million to be paid to  him.

"They met and entered Shafik's car registration number UBE 434 T that his sister had also entered. The guy drove at breakneck speed after sensing that police was following them but the complainant jumped off from his car leaving the sister inside. The suspect drove off to Nakasero," a source told this website.

At the State Lodge  the suspect to tried to hit the barriers to force the vehicle inside the premises.

"The soldiers stopped him but he kept forcing his way in as he tried to hit the barrier. The soldier later shot the car tyre, prompting Shafik to turn and drive off on a deflated tyre."

It is reported that during the melee, the driver knocked a boda boda rider who was following the vehicle from Arua Park.

The suspect is said to have later  driven the vehicle up to Nakasero, near the blood bank from where he was arrested.

Meanwhile, the female occupant in the vehicle, Mercy Evelyn Aketch Adiko, 23, the sister to the victim, was wounded during the shooting.

She later succumbed to the injuries.

Contacted for a comment on the matter, the Special Forces Command public information officer, Maj Jimmy Omara, confirmed the incident, noting that investigations have kicked off to ascertain circumstances under which it happened.

“There was an attempted breach of security on one of our gates by unidentified car that wanted to forcefully gain access into state lodge Nakasero. Even after warnings were given by security, the car failed to adhere to the protocol given by the guards on duty. The car drove off and the driver in the names of Shafik was arrested by police after trying to flee,” Maj Omara said.

“We have opened investigations into the matter to understand the motive of the suspect. The suspect has been taken into custody by police at CPS Kampala.”

A case of abduction against Bwanika has been recorded at CPS under SD  REF 87/30/4/2024 CRB742/ 2024 .

The SFC public information officer asked members of the public to always adhere to security protocols.

“We implore members of the public who would like to access such restricted areas to follow security protocols in place plus making use of the available writings on posts and sign posts at check points. They should not forget adhering to instructions at all times,” Maj Omara said.

Kampala Metropolitan police spokesperson, Patrick Onyango confirmed the incident but  declined to give details "to avoid jeopardising investigations."