Delayed Justice: 19-Year-Old Ugandan Youth’s Life Shattered by Police Shooting
Arua, Uganda – On June 16, 2021, Hussein Yusuf’s life took a tragic turn. Then a 16-year-old student at Ombatini Primary School, Hussein was caught in a police chase and struck by gunfire, altering his life forever.
Now 19, Hussein lives with daily pain, unable to access education or proper medical care, his dreams shattered and his future bleak. This is the story of a young man caught in the crossfire of a justice system that has failed him.
Hussein after Surgery in St. Mary's Hospital Lacor
The Day of the Incident
On that fateful afternoon, Hussein was preparing for Juma prayers outside his brother’s workplace along Terego Road in Arua City. Unaware of the police chase nearby, he was hit by gunfire.
"I heard gunshots, and suddenly, I felt pain in my legs and fell to the ground," Hussein recalls. “When I got to the hospital, my brother told me about the suspect they were chasing, but at the time, I didn’t know anything.
”Hussein's innocence in the incident was confirmed by several eyewitnesses. Twaha Idi, one witness, described how the suspect narrowly escaped as the officer fired, accidentally hitting Hussein. “The bullet missed a woman and hit the boy’s legs,” he said.
Eyewitness Twaha Idi narrating the incident on that fateful day
Mariam Swalim, another witness, narrowly avoided the same bullets and recalls the chaotic scene:
“The bullet hit the chair I was sitting on. We all thought Hussein was dead. It was very sad because he was innocent.”
Eyewitness Mariam Swalim
A good Samaritan, Muktar Ratib, came to Hussein’s rescue, calling for help and rushing him to the hospital. The teenager was later transferred to St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, where one of his legs was amputated, and the other required an artificial bone.
The Struggle for Justice
Following the shooting, Hussein’s brother, Droti Ismail Yusuf, filed an attempted murder case against the officer responsible, Oyuru Quinto, then head of the Field Force Unit at Arua Central Police Station.
“When I reported the incident, I received a call from Oyuru, who admitted to the shooting, calling it accidental,” Droti explains.
Despite the severity of the case, the investigation stalled, with Droti facing repeated roadblocks in his pursuit of justice.
"The case file is still in the same office, managed by the same officer," Droti says.
The family’s calls for justice and compensation have largely been ignored, and they eventually reached out to the Uganda Human Rights Commission for help.
Droti Yusuf, brother to Hussein, who supports him with everything
Eyewitness Frustrations and Police Response
A report from the Uganda Police, dated May 30, 2022, concluded the shooting was accidental. However, witnesses, who claim that the crowd only became upset after Hussein was shot, challenge this account.
The family, meanwhile, is left to cope with Hussein’s escalating medical expenses and their dwindling hope for justice.
Senior police officials acknowledge the incident but have not provided a concrete path forward. Senior Superintendent Josephine Angucia, the police’s regional spokesperson, confirms that 4 million Ugandan shillings were paid to Hussein’s family for medical costs, but they have no updates on the case’s progress.
SSP Angucia Josephine, West Nile Police PRO
Life in Pain and Despair
Living in Oyoze Cell, Pangisha Ward, Arua Central Division, Hussein faces an uncertain future. Orphaned and with limited resources, his life is filled with physical pain and emotional turmoil. “My life is destroyed,” he says.
“All I ask is for compensation so I can try to rebuild.” His brother, Droti, also worries about Hussein’s ongoing need for medical reviews and his artificial leg, which will require further adjustments as Hussein grows.
Calls for Accountability
The case has reignited debate around police accountability in Uganda. Human rights lawyer Nicholas Opiyo points to structural flaws that make it difficult to investigate cases involving police misconduct.
“The reporting structure requires victims to file complaints with the same institution that wronged them, often resulting in no accountability,” Opiyo explains.
He advocates for an independent oversight body to handle such investigations.
Nicholas Opiyo, human rights lawyer at Chapter Four, Speaking
Waiting for Justice
Today, Hussein’s life is on hold, and he remains haunted by that tragic day in June 2021. Despite family efforts to pursue justice through both the legal system and human rights organizations, they continue to wait, hopeful that one day Hussein may receive the support and justice he deserves.
Click To Watch The Detailed Investigative Story
This report was made possible by USAID in partnership with the African Institute for Investigative Journalism (AIIJ).
By Matata Benzamin - dailywestnile.info
