Traders recount ‘one-hour’ shooting spree that disrupted business at Kiseka Market

What the report says

The Observer reported that traders at Kiseka Market in Kampala said a shooting incident involving security operatives disrupted business on Monday, forcing shops in arcades along Aga Khan Road to close as people fled. The publication said the disturbance began at the Original Kiseka Spare Parts Centre Arcade during an attempted arrest by plain-clothed operatives who arrived in a “drone” minibus.

According to traders cited by The Observer, armed officers tried to arrest a spare parts dealer on an upper floor, but the situation deteriorated when other traders questioned the operatives’ identities and destination for the suspect. Witnesses said more operatives then emerged from the vehicle and fired shots, while some people in nearby arcades responded by throwing stones. Traders said business remained paralysed for more than two hours.

The Observer reported that the operatives initially abandoned the arrest amid resistance, drove toward Nabugabo police station, then returned to the market and fired more shots before leaving. Trader Joseph Akiiki said the gunfire caused panic and raised questions about why armed plain-clothed personnel were operating inside a busy commercial area. He said he could not verify who, if anyone, was arrested.

Police spokesperson ACP Kituuma Rusoke told The Observer the team was carrying out an operation to arrest suspected offenders and that some members of the public obstructed lawful arrests. He said officers fired warning shots to disperse a violent crowd and allow the operation to proceed safely. The incident has fed renewed debate over plain-clothed security operations and the use of firearms in crowded urban markets.