Ricochet bullet injures baby in Hoima
Written by admin on January 4, 2023
A two-year-old baby is admitted to a private health facility in Hoima City after being hit by a police ricochet bullet at Kiryateete Cell in East Division, Hoima City.
The baby has been identified as Altakabir Kyakuhaire son to Mr Ashraf Kyakuhaire and Ms Margaret Atuhurra, residents of Bulemwa cell in West Division, Hoima city.
The Albertine Region Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Julius Allan Hakiza, said Wednesday the incident happened Tuesday when the police Flying Squad was pursuing suspected car and vehicle thieves who were travelling in a Toyota Wish vehicle registration number UBB 533X at Kiryateete cell along Fort Portal Road in Hoima city.
The baby’s mother, Ms Atuhurra, who operates a mobile money booth, told our reporter that in what appeared to be an escape attempt, the driver of a Toyota Wish reversed the vehicle that knocked a Toyota Ipsum occupied by plain clothed men forcing one of them to open fire that hit her son.
Ms Atuhurra added that she realised that her son who she had held on her laps was hit by a bullet when she saw blood flow from his head amid crying.
The baby’s father, Mr Kyakuhaire, who said his son sustained a bullet wound above the right ear, wants the police to foot the medical bill. But the police spokesperson, ASP Hakiza did not highlight it though he said the police regretted the accidental incident.
Mr Innocent Kusiima, a health worker treating the baby at Destiny Medical Centre in Hoima city, said the patient suffered a deep bullet wound and a minor bone scratch.
However, he said the baby was responding to treatment.
Despite the incident, ASP Hakiza said the police pursued the suspects who later abandoned the vehicle at Kasiingo cell in West Division, Hoima city.
The police impounded the vehicle and it is currently parked at the Albertine regional police headquarters in Hoima city as the hunt for the suspects continue.