Assailants shoot at expectant mother in Uganda, kill unborn child

Ugandans in Kasese District, were on Wednesday gripped with shock following a horrific incident where one of them, an expectant mother was shot at by unknown assailants.

Ms Denize Kabugho, 26, a resident of Kirembe Cell, Kirembe Ward in Kasese Municipality was shot in the abdomen at around 8.30 pm on Tuesday when she had stepped out of the house to buy sugar from a nearby shop.

Mr Geoffrey Mumbere, Kabugho’s husband, said his wife was shot by people on a motorcycle whose registration number was not noticed as it was dark.

“My wife left me in the house to buy sugar since she wanted to take tea but shortly after she had left, I heard a motorcycle and gunshots started rocking,” Mr Mumbere recounted.

“I heard someone crying for help and when I peeped it was my wife lying down. When I came out, I found her bleeding and shouted for help. I rushed her here at Kilembe Hospital, with the help of neighbours,” he added.

According to Mr Mumbere, his wife was due to give birth in a week’s time but unfortunately lost the baby in the gruesome incident.

Speaking from her hospital bed, Ms Kabugho said she was leaving the shop when three men on a motorcycle shot at her.

“I did not see them clearly but they were wearing dark clothes, sort of black or navy blue. I made an alarm and immediately fell down,” Ms Kabugho said.

Kilembe Hospital administrator, Mr Onesmus Kibaya said on Wednesday that Ms Kabugho was out of danger though still weak.

“Ms Kabugho has been our client on antenatal who unfortunately lost the baby due to the shooting but I must say that she is now out of danger,” Mr Kibaya said.

Kasese District chairman, Mr Geoffrey Bigogo decried the high level of insecurity in the region, citing Bwesumbu, Kasangali and Nyakiyumbu as the hot spots of such crimes.

Rwenzori East Regional Police Commander, Mr Samuel Asiimwe said they are on ground carrying out investigations to establish the motive of the assailants.

“We are yet to arrest the culprits and recover the guns that have been involved in the last five robberies in the region this month, two in Bwesumbu and three in Kasese town. We have potential leads in all the incidents,” Asiimwe said.

Last week, the Deputy Resident District Commissioner, Mr Joshua Kisembo Masereka attributed the increased insecurity in the district to the guns are reportedly being sneaked in from the neighbouring DR Congo.

Mr Masereka said that all the guns so far recovered including the latest from Nyakiyumbu Sub-County have some engraves showing DRC. He added that the same guns are being used by poachers to kill animals in Queen Elizabeth National Park.