Police in Mbarara yesterday fired teargas and live bullets to disperse rowdy protesters who took to the streets following the death of a bodaboda cyclist.
The deceased, Moses Kafeero, 38, is said to have been knocked dead during a traffic stop. The regional police spokesman Samson Kasasira says Kafeero met his death while trying prevent a traffic warden taking away his motorcycle.
“Ssenoga Umar alias Kyabura, a city council traffic warden was struggling with the deceased to take his motorcycle and in the process of the deceased trying to get away, he fell into the road and was run over by a motor vehicle that is yet to be impounded,” Kasasira said.
The said vehicle number UBD 341X was heading from Mbarara toward Kabale rnear Independence Park.
Kasasira says the traffic warden has since been arrested for causing the accident and is being held at CPS Mbarara.
However, following the incident, a number of bodaboda erupted into protest and decided to hold a procession while carrying the body of the deceased to the Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital mortuary.
Kasasira says police moved in to disperse them with teargas and live bullets around Kobil petrol station where they abandoned the body.
However, according to the police mouthpiece, the bodaboda riders later proceeded to the home of the traffic warden in Kabaale cell, Masha subcounty in Isingiro district where they burnt his house to ashes destroying property in the house.
“Police was able to rescue three children of the suspect and are also at CPS Mbarara for safe custody,” Kasasira said.
By yesterday evening, no arrests had been made in the case of arson.
