Govt Regrets Shoot-to-Kill Incident of Six City Robbers

Gen Kahinda Otafiire, the minister for internal affairs, condemned the killings and emphasised the importance of adherence to legal procedures.

The government has expressed regret over the Police shooting to death of six Ugandans, allegedly involved in a robbery plot in Kampala.

The incident, which occurred during an operation targeting suspects at a local bank branch in Kololo and Acacia Mall, has sparked public outrage and raised concerns over the use of lethal force without sufficient evidence.

Gen Kahinda Otafiire, the minister for internal affairs, condemned the killings and emphasised the importance of adherence to legal procedures.

"Under no circumstances should a Ugandan be executed. I regret that these six Ugandans were gunned down on mere suspicion," Otafiire said.

"We must ensure arrests and detentions are backed by solid evidence. Don’t arrest anybody until you are satisfied with the facts."

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abas Byakagaba also expressed sorrow over the incident, urging officers to prioritize lawful conduct.

"The loss of life is regrettable. Police can't be the ones fostering loss of lives when our duty is to protect life and property," he said.

"If life is to be lost, it must be within the law. Let us follow the procedures even as we fight for the rights of those who are killed."

He called for a thorough investigation into the incident to ensure that actions taken by officers were legally justified.

The killings have reignited concerns about extrajudicial executions in Uganda, a persistent issue that violates both the Constitution and international human rights treaties.

The Constitution guarantees the right to life and the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.

Additionally, Uganda is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which mandates fair trials and prohibits arbitrary deprivation of life.

In Parliament, lawmakers voiced their disapproval of the police’s actions. MP Theodore Ssekikubo questioned the justification for using lethal force, stating, "These six Ugandans were gunned down by the police under suspicion of robbery, but how sure were they? There needs to be a clear process before such drastic measures are taken."

MP Betty Nambooze also criticised the police's handling of the incident, saying, "Is that execution or sorting out criminals? The law does not give you the power to take lives indiscriminately. This is not justice; it is lawlessness."

She called for a comprehensive investigation to establish accountability and ensure that similar incidents do not occur in the future.

Public frustration over the incident reflects growing concerns about unchecked police powers and the erosion of trust in law enforcement.

Human rights advocates argue that addressing such incidents transparently and holding those responsible to account are essential for rebuilding public confidence in the justice system.

Earlier this week, Police said they were investigating the manner in which robbers have been targeting businesspersons drawing money from banks.

Two suspects fled and remain at large from the group that was shot dead, with Police linking them to an earlier daylight robbery of a businessman, whose car was attacked in traffic and a bag with Shs100 million was taken.