The police in Kikuube District are investigating a fatal shooting incident that occurred in Rwenkobe Village, Kaseeta Parish, Kabwoya Sub-County. The victim, 50-year-old Ronald Munyanzonza, was shot dead by officials from the National Forestry Authority (NFA) on Sunday, around 12:30 PM. His 23-year-old son, Bosco Twikunda, was also injured in the leg during the incident.
Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson, informed journalists on Monday that the shooting occurred after an NFA team discovered five sacks of charcoal at Munyanzonza’s house.
The NFA officials ordered Munyanzonza to load the charcoal onto their vehicle, suspecting that the trees used to make the charcoal had been illegally sourced from Bugoma Forest.
However, Munyanzonza insisted that the charcoal came from his own trees in the forest reserve and refused to comply with their demands.
Hakiza explained that when Munyanzonza refused to comply, the NFA officials opened fire, killing him on the spot and injuring his son, Twikunda, who is now receiving treatment at Kyangwali Health Center IV.
The police spokesperson confirmed that the suspects, believed to be members of the NFA enforcement team, are still at large. In response to the incident, an angry mob set the NFA officials’ motorcycle on fire, and police are making efforts to apprehend the suspects.
When contacted for comment, Boaz Basigirenda, the NFA range manager for the Budongo system, stated that the matter is under police investigation.
He further added that, according to reports from his field officers, the shooting resulted from an alleged attack on the NFA team by residents.
