Ugandan labour minister shot dead by bodyguard

Ugandan labour minister shot dead by bodyguard 

A Ugandan minister, Charles Engola, has been shot dead in his Kampala home, the nation’s capital.

Engola, minister of state for labour, employment and industrial relations, Charles Engola, was killed by his bodyguard on Tuesday over unpaid salary.

The police spokesperson, Fred Enanga, said the minister was shot dead around 8am local time.

“He (Engola) was shot at his residence in Kyanja by one of his bodyguards who allegedly fired several shots at close range. He fled from the scene up to the trading centre at Kyanja, Ring road where he entered a salon and shot himself dead,” the police spokesperson said.

The bodyguard was identified as Wilson Sabiiti, an ex-soldier.

A witness said Sabiiti complained that the minister owed him several months of salary as he shot in the air to scare away civilians at Kyanja town, moments before turning the gun on himself.

“The guard said he had not been paid Ush4 million (about $1,000). He said he had a pregnant woman and his children were not going to school, yet the minister’s children were schooling,” the eyewitness was quoted as saying.

Police said investigations had commenced.

“The motive of the murder has not yet been established. The investigation is currently in the early stages of review, with CID and forensic experts, already documenting the scene,” Enanga said.

Ugandan labour minister shot dead by bodyguard