Balaam Barugahara has strongly condemned the shooting of an unarmed female civilian near the residence of Anita Among, questioning why deadly force was used against a woman who was reportedly trying to make a living in the city.
The incident has drawn even more public attention after reports emerged that Speaker Anita Among’s bodyguard, identified as Corporal Humphrey Muhanguzi, was apprehended in connection with the shooting of the yet-to-be-identified female driver. Authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident and establish what exactly led to the use of force.
In his statement, Balaam argued that security personnel and bodyguards are expected to uphold the highest levels of professionalism, discipline, and restraint while carrying out their duties. He stressed that even in high-risk situations, the focus should be on de-escalating incidents, restraining suspects where necessary, and handing them over for proper investigation instead of using lethal force.
He further noted that elite security units around the world are trained to apply proportional response, with the main objective being to neutralize threats rather than take lives, especially when dealing with unarmed civilians. According to him, any use of force must always be lawful, justified, and accountable.
Balaam also emphasized that protecting VIPs should never come at the expense of innocent lives. He pointed to the professionalism of the Special Forces Command responsible for protecting Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and other senior leaders, saying such units are known for apprehending and cautioning violators instead of resorting to fatal shootings.
His remarks have sparked wider discussion among members of the public about accountability, human rights, and the conduct of security personnel when handling civilians around homes and convoys of high-profile leaders.
