Police fired tear gas in the town of Lira on Tuesday to disperse hundreds of angry people who were trying to loot shops and supermarkets owned by the Indian community.

The incident was triggered by the killing of a local businessman, identified as Dickens Odongo, a resident of Baronger Cell, Railways Ward, Lira City East Division in Lira City.

The victim was allegedly shot dead by a security guard posted at Navroz Supermarket, owned by an Indian national, on Olwol Road.
Like dozens of other Indian-run businesses along Olwol Road and adjacent areas, Navroz Supermarket was closed when the crowd turned rowdy, despite heavy police deployment at the scene of the shooting.

Witnesses told this publication that Odongo jumped off a motorcycle at a boda boda scene near the supermarket around 9:30am before one of the security guards identified as Mr Moses Opio, without any warning, raised his gun and to open fire on him.

Mr Lucky Junior Akaca, a businessman who operates a shop opposite the supermarket, said he was surprised that the security guard shot Odongo without warning.

“A group of boda boda operators were having a meeting at their phase near the supermarket when suddenly I heard gunshots and when I rushed to the scene I saw Odongo lying in a pool of blood, dead,” he Akaca told Monitor at the scene.

He said that after the incident, Opio fled the scene with his gun.

Mr Juma Owera, chairman of the Lira City West Boda boda Association, said: “Of course during the meeting, there were some arguments but we did not discuss anything related to the supermarket. We were only surprised when the security guard took his gun and shot Odongo before fleeing the scene.

Mr Patrick Jimmy Okema, the regional police spokesman in Kyoga North, said investigations had begun into the shooting which he described as unfortunate.

“Statements were obtained from relatives and other relevant witnesses. The weapon alleged to have been used was recovered and exhibited on police book 19. The body of the deceased was recovered and taken to Lira Regional Referral Hospital mortuary pending post-mortem examination,” he said.

Mr. Okema said the suspect is in custody at Lira Central Police Station.

“The reason for the shooting is not yet established,” he added.