There was chaos in Mukono District on Saturday after residents stormed a police station demanding for the head of OC Coleb Asiimwe who was accused of shooting dead a 15-year-old girl during operations on New Year’s Eve.

Police responded by firing live rounds in the air and tear gas aimed at the outraged locals of Mbalala in Mukono.

Residents claim OC Asiimwe shot and killed Shamila Nantabala, who was staying with her aunt, Nalongo Hamuyati, in Mbalala Centre.

“Nantabala was in her area of business at the time of shooting. She has been operating a chips business after her father failed to raise school fees. She was shot in the stomach and died after a few minutes,” a one Gerald Mukasa is quoted to have told Daily Monitor as he asked for Mr Asiimwe to be arrested and charged over “continued misconduct.”

Another resident and eye witness of the late Friday night shooting blamed the incident on recklessness.

“At around 11:45pm, OC Asiimwe turned up in Mbalala center in his vehicle. He then got his pistol and started shooting as people gathered to wait for 2022. That’s when Shamila was shot dead and he drove off after,” Rose Nandawula explained. Angry residents stormed the police station in protest

Shamila’s aunt Nalongo Hamuyati said she was only looking at people that convened to celebrate the New Year.

“After she was shot, we carried her to the veranda but she died a few minutes after,” she said.

Some police officers who preferred anonymity claimed the said OC was operating while drunk.

The Mukono District Police Commander (DPC) Annabella Nyiramahoro Saturday afternoon asked residents to keep calm as new OC Olivia Nabiko was introduced to “stand in for the accused.”

Ms Nyiramahoro confirmed that Mr Asiimwe is now detained at Mukono police station while Shamila’s body was at Kawolo for post-mortem. The deceased will be buried in Busabala Village, Lugazi Municipality in Buikwe district, according to her family