Bloody: Toddler Shot Dead, Two Injured In Masaka Bar Shooting Incident

By Swift Reporter

Police in Masaka District are investigating a tragic shooting incident in which a two-year-old boy was killed and two others injured during a violent altercation at a bar in Ndeeba-Lwagulwe Village, Kyesiiga Sub-County.

The deceased minor has been identified as Ashiraf Mbazira. His mother, Aisha Kisakyamukama, and a resident, Gerald Kiweewa also known as Bamu, sustained serious injuries and are receiving medical treatment.

The incident reportedly occurred late in the evening during a disturbance at the bar, which escalated after a group of youths who had attended a karaoke event in a nearby village stormed the premises. Witnesses said the group began stealing mobile phones and assaulting patrons, triggering panic among customers.

The Officer in Charge of security in the area, Mr Willy Ogwal, who was present at the scene, allegedly opened fire in an attempt to control the situation. According to local accounts, he fired several shots to disperse the crowd after the confrontation turned chaotic.

Authorities say Mr Ogwal claims he fired into the air to scare off the attackers and prevent a suspected phone thief from being lynched by an angry mob. However, stray bullets are believed to have struck the toddler and the two adults during the incident.

Kyesiiga Sub-County Chairperson, Mr Mikidadi Lusiiba, confirmed that local leadership immediately alerted senior police officers following the shooting. He said officials had engaged Mr Ogwal, who maintained that he was responding to a mob justice situation.

“We tried to interact with Mr Ogwal, who claimed he was forced to fire into the air when a mob turned on him. He said he was trying to rescue a suspected phone thief from being lynched by the angry crowd,” Mr Lusiiba said.

He urged bar owners to strengthen security measures to prevent similar tragedies, warning that lack of proper crowd control at entertainment venues poses a serious risk to public safety.

“Proprietors of bars and entertainment places must employ proper security personnel from registered companies or work with police to manage crowds and avoid such incidents,” he said.

Police have since arrested Mr Ogwal to assist with investigations into the circumstances surrounding the shooting.

While the officer maintains that he was intervening in a violent mob situation, some residents have raised conflicting accounts, alleging that the shooting may have stemmed from a personal dispute involving individuals at the bar. These claims remain unverified.