One killed in foiled hardware shop robbery in Fort Portal

Police in Fort Portal are investigating a shooting incident that left one person dead and another injured during an attempted robbery along Bwamba Road in Central Division.

The incident occurred around 3:00 am on Saturday. According to Rwenzori West police spokesperson Vincent Twesige, the deceased, identified as Isiah Saad Mugisha was part of a group of three individuals who allegedly attempted to rob a hardware store dealing in steel, tubes, and cement.

The store was being guarded by two private security officers from Master Guard Security Group. Twesige said the suspects arrived on a boda boda and were armed with a pit axe and other tools, which they allegedly intended to use to overpower the guards.

A scuffle reportedly ensued, during which the guards opened fire in self-defense, fatally shooting one of the suspects. One of the guards, identified as Bwambale, sustained an arm injury during the confrontation and was admitted to Fort Portal regional referral hospital.

His colleague, Bagonza, was taken into police custody to assist with investigations. Police recovered an SMG rifle with one round in the chamber and another in the magazine, a cartridge case, a blood-stained pit axe, and a green bag suspected to have belonged to the deceased.