DECEASED: Ivan Kakaire
A military police officer guarding the Busia Municipality Member of Parliament, Godfrey Macho has been shot dead in Busia.
The soldier identified as Ivan Kakaire was reportedly shot outside a church where he had escorted the principal for prayers.
Three assailants on a motorcycle reportedly approached the soldier, who had remained in the car, and asked him to identify himself before opening fire and killing him instantly.
“The bodyguard together with his boss went for prayers and both of them were in suit. So Hon (Godfrey Macho) entered inside the church as the bodyguard remain outside seated in the car. Three people came in boda and just asked him whom he was and straight away shot him while the boss was in prayers,” said an acquaintance of the MP.
When contacted on phone, the MP blamed the incident on police flying squad officers who he said wanted him dead.
“My brother it is a terrible time here. I’ll send you traumatic pictures,” he said.
Adding: “It is police flying squad. They wanted me dead,” said MP Macho.
However, Defence spokesperson Brig Flavia Byekwaso said the killing of Macho’s escort was a result of “mistaken identity”.
She said the police constables who shot Kakaire submitted that they were trailing suspected smugglers and they confused the car number plates for both which were harriers.
“Smugglers were in a harrier as well as Hon Macho. But why the police would shoot someone found at church is perturbing because there is no indication of resistance to arrest,” said Byekwaso on Monday morning.
Police officials said a statement on this development would be issued later today.