Shock and grief have gripped Kampala’s business community following the killing of prominent businessman Anthony Mutinisa, a well-known luxury car dealer, who was shot dead in his office on Sunday.
According to police, Mutinisa was attacked by a man identified as Hillary Byaruhanga, a 28-year-old private security guard employed by a local firm. Witnesses say the two exchanged heated words before Byaruhanga allegedly opened fire, killing Mutinisa instantly and fleeing the scene with an undisclosed sum of money.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kituuma Rusoke confirmed the arrest of the suspect in Kanungu District, hours after the shooting.
“After the incident, the suspect escaped using his employer’s car, which he also stole along with cash,” Rusoke said. The vehicle was later recovered in Katwe Cell, Kihihi Town.
Mutinisa, the founder of Mutinisa Motors Uganda, was a household name in Kampala’s luxury car market. His clients included senior government officials, ministers, and diplomats who frequently hired or purchased high-end vehicles through his company.
“This is a tragic loss,” said a police spokesperson in Kampala. “We are following up on key intelligence and are confident that justice will be served. We urge the public to remain calm as investigations continue.”
The murder has added to growing concerns over rising violence linked to private security guards in Uganda.
In June 2025, a guard shot dead two workers after a dispute in Mbuya, while three months earlier another guard killed a wealthy businessman at Mukwano Arcade in downtown Kampala.
In October 2024, a guard in Lira gunned down a trader he was supposed to protect.
Observers and civil society groups have urged Ugandan authorities to tighten background checks on security guards, noting that thousands of individuals are entrusted with firearms without sufficient vetting for issues such as alcoholism, violent tendencies, or mental instability.
Police have appealed to the public to report suspicious behavior among private guards, warning that lapses in oversight pose a grave threat to public safety.
Mutinisa’s death is the latest in a string of killings that have raised questions about the regulation of private security companies and the growing risks faced by Uganda’s wealthy elite.
