Busia Boy Killed by Stray Bullet During URA Smuggling Crackdown

Tragedy struck Buhobe trading centre in Bulumbi Sub-county, Busia district, after a 13-year-old boy lost his life during an operation conducted by the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). The victim, identified as Dominic Wejuli, was killed by a stray bullet as security personnel moved to impound suspected smuggled merchandise from neighboring Kenya.

According to local police reports, the enforcement team faced a hostile crowd of residents who attempted to block the confiscation of goods stored inside a local shop. Moses Johnson Mugwe, the Bukedi South Police spokesperson, stated that a Uganda Peoples’ Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier attached to the tax body’s enforcement unit discharged a firearm to disperse the rowdy gathering. Tragically, a bullet pierced through a gate, striking the young primary four pupil inside a house and killing him instantly.

The incident has sparked outrage and sorrow among community members. Eyewitness Muhammed Ntalo strongly criticized the enforcement methods deployed by URA officers, accusing them of resorting to live ammunition and excessive force immediately upon arrival, thereby endangering innocent civilian lives.

Harriet Nekesa, the grieving sister of the deceased, recounted that her family was nearby at a restaurant when the gunfire erupted, only to discover shortly after that their young brother had fallen victim to the chaos. Other residents, including local teacher David Ouma and community member David Wandera, have appealed to the central government to intervene. They are calling for a thorough review of URA’s operational guidelines to ensure public safety is prioritized and that justice is served for the bereaved family.

Read more details on the incident from The Observer.