A grieving father was reportedly knocked down by a police patrol vehicle during a protest against the reopening of a stone quarry in Nakisunga Sub-county, Mukono District, days after his 12-year-old daughter died in an uncovered excavation at the site.
John Kabegere, a resident of Nangwa, was among residents protesting on Monday against the resumption of operations at GLA Stone Quarry in Kiwugo Village. His daughter, Jesca Nalujja, a Primary Five pupil, reportedly fell into a deep pit and died while looking after goats on Saturday.
Residents accuse the quarry operators of leaving dangerous pits unsecured, damaging nearby homes and exposing the community to safety risks. They say they have complained about the quarry’s operations for more than five years without a lasting solution.
The protest turned chaotic when police officers arrived to disperse the demonstrators. A video circulating on social media appears to show a patrol vehicle driving towards the crowd, narrowly missing a woman before striking or knocking down Kabegere, who is seen falling to the ground.
Police have acknowledged the video and confirmed that investigations into the incident have commenced. However, officers have not publicly identified Kabegere or explained the circumstances under which the vehicle allegedly knocked him down.
The quarry is owned by investor Guster Lule Ntake and operated by his son, Guster Lutaaya. Residents are demanding compensation for alleged property damage and other losses, while quarry management reportedly agreed to meet affected residents following Nalujja’s death.
Residents say they protested after learning that quarry operations had resumed before their concerns were resolved. They have also questioned the response of district environment officials, although District Environment Officer John Damba denies receiving bribes and says he never received formal complaints from the affected residents.
The tragedy has intensified calls for accountability, with residents demanding investigations into the child’s death, the safety of the quarry and the conduct of the police officers involved in the protest. The community is seeking justice for Nalujja, accountability for the incident involving her father and urgent measures to prevent further loss of life.
