Mityana residents question police account of deadly Friday shooting

by · The Observer

Residents of Kabira, Mityana district, have raised doubts about the police’s explanation of how Isaac Sendawula, a suspect in custody, allegedly stole a firearm and used it to kill David Sserwadda, the man who had reported him to the authorities.

Sendawula, who had been detained for two days at Kabira police post following assault charges filed by Sserwadda, reportedly shot and killed his accuser last Friday.

The two men were known to have a history of enmity, though the exact cause of their disputes remained unclear. Locals speculated that their animosity might have stemmed from land conflicts or allegations of infidelity, but no concrete details were ever confirmed.

Police claim that Sendawula managed to steal a firearm from an officer at the station before carrying out the killing. However, this explanation has been met with scepticism by Kabira residents, who suspect possible collusion between the suspect and some police personnel.

Chrysostom Kizito, a resident, expressed disbelief, questioning how a suspect could steal a gun under police watch.

"I find this explanation not convincing," he said. "We are wondering whether Isaac learned shooting from the police officers who then gave him the gun, or he already knew how to use it."

David Sendawula, another resident, echoed similar concerns, raising doubts about how Sendawula could have learned to use the firearm so effectively.

Kabira Police Post, where Sendawula was detained, is a small facility typically manned by one to three officers. Kizito speculated that the suspect might have taken advantage of a lone officer on duty to steal the weapon and kill Sserwadda, who was a crime preventer known for his cooperation with law enforcement.

Wamala Regional police spokesperson, SP Racheal Kawala, acknowledged the community’s concerns and assured the public that investigations were underway to determine how Sendawula gained access to the firearm. She confirmed that murder charges had been added to his initial assault charges.

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