Police in Masaka have launched an investigation into the death of Joseph Nasasira, a 27-year-old private security guard who allegedly shot himself in the chest while on duty.
Nasasira, an employee of Corporate Security Services Ltd, was deployed to guard Masaka Recreation Grounds, which is currently under construction when the incident occurred.
According to Twaha Kasirye, Southern Regional Police spokesperson, the motive behind Nasasira’s alleged suicide remains unclear. However, investigations are underway to establish the circumstances surrounding his death. Kasirye confirmed that Nasasira’s body had been taken to the Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination.
The firearm used in the incident has been retained as an exhibit to aid the ongoing investigation. He further advised private security guards to seek counselling or report personal problems to relevant authorities rather than resorting to suicide.
He encouraged security personnel facing personal or work-related challenges to seek help from their employers or the police instead of resorting to taking their own lives. This tragedy comes barely two weeks after a similar incident involving Mesach Matte, another private security guard attached to Timecop Security Company Ltd.
Matte reportedly shot himself dead while on duty at Kampala University, allegedly due to longstanding family disputes. The two incidents have raised concerns about the mental health and well-being of private security guards, prompting calls for enhanced counselling services and better communication channels between guards and their employers.
