Police identifies killer of labour minister, kicks off investigations

Police are investigating the cause of the death of Col. (rtd) Charles Okello Macodwogo Engola, the State Minister for Labour, Employment and Industrial Relations.

Engola has been shot dead this morning by his bodyguard identified as Sabiiti Wilson.

In the incident that happened in Kyanja on Tuesday morning, the UPDF bodyguard ran away from the scene to a nearby saloon and later shot himself. He died instantly.

Addressing journalists at police headquarters this morning, Fred Enanga, the police spokesperson, explained that the deputy inspector general of police together with the director of CID responded to the incident.

“The investigation is currently in the early stage of review. We have also dispatched a team of crime scene experts, who are using the most advanced technology to get what exactly was the cause of this tragic murder,” he noted.

Enanga further added it’s so early to speculate what could be the cause of the murder. He confirmed that the minister died immediately on the scene.

He said police haven’t confirmed how many bodyguards were injured. He said further details will be availed.

Initial reports indicate that the minister was stepping out of his home and heading to work when one of his bodyguards shot him dead.

The bodyguard then started roaming the neighbourhood while continuing to shoot in the air. He eventually retreated to a nearby salon, and ordered the people cowering inside to leave before he turned the gun on himself.

Witnesses claim that the soldier was yelling that he had not been paid for a long time despite working for a minister.

A fellow resident and former Kawempe North MP Latif Ssebaggala was one of the first on the scene. He claimed to have seen Engola’s bodyguard on the rampage in the neighbourhood. He said he advised the residents to take cover as the soldier continued to shoot in the air.

Engola’s last public appearance was in Namutumba district to mark International Labour Day on May 1.