REGGAE music artiste Moses Ssali, also known as Bebe Cool, and his two kanyamas (bodyguards), are in Nsambya Hospital after having been shot by special police constables in the wee hours of Saturday.

When Sunday Vision visited the hospital, Bebe Cool, son of former local government minister Bidandi Ssali, was in severe pain in theatre as doctors were carrying out surgery on him.

The thigh muscles on both his legs were smashed. His wife, Zuena, sobbed as local artistes and relatives jammed the church-owned hospital.

His bodyguards, also in acute pain, were identified as Cobra, alias Bosco Kabojjo, who was shot in the abdomen, and Allan Masengere.

They were shot during a 3:00am scuffle with two SPCs in a parking yard behind Nakumatt Supermarket near Centenary Park gardens.

Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba identified the SPCs as David Oluka and Alfred Acihikan, attached to Jinja Road Police Station. A stray bullet also hit Oluka during the melée. He is admitted at Mulago Hospital.

According to a source, the scuffle ensued after the SPCs, who were on routine foot patrol, found a man and woman having sex inside a vehicle parked behind the supermarket.

The SPCs tried to stop the couple, arguing that having sex in a public place was illegal and dangerous to their safety.

Instead, the man, whose identity is yet to be known, shunned the advice, forcing the Police officers to arrest him.

The man resisted and asked the SPCs to allow him call his lawyer. But the ‘lawyer’ he called was Bebe Cool, who showed up with about five ‘kanyamas’ (body builders).

On arrival, the singer and his entourage allegedly shouted and hurled insults at the SPCs.

According to Police spokesperson Judith Nabakooba, one of the SPCs, Oluka, shot in the air to scare them away.

But a worker near the scene narrated that a bloody fracas ensued when Bebe Cool’s bodyguards attempted to fight and disarm the SPCs.

One of the policemen, presumed to be Acihikan, then lowered the gun and shot Bebe Cool in the thighs. Another bullet hit one of the bodyguards, Kabojjo and his colleague policeman Oluka.

Acihikan, according to the Police, has been arrested and detained at Jinja Road Police Station.

Asked whether they would open up a case against Bebe Cool and his group, she said this would depend on the outcome of the investigations.

On whether the SPCs had acted professionally, Nabakooba said: “It appears as if they acted in self-defence. But we are investigating. We shall take the necessary action and inform the public after the investigations.”

Yesterday morning former local government minister Bidandi Ssali visited Bebe Cool in the hospital. A visibly devastated Bidandi, however, said he was relieved his son had not died and blamed the police officer for the incident.

Jose Chameleone, Mesach Ssemakula and Dr. Tee were among the artistes who turned up in a show of love for their fellow musician.

The incident is the latest in a series of scuffles involving Bebe Cool. On several occasions, he has engaged in fights with fellow artistes Bobi Wine, Chameleone and of recent Mozey Radio and Weasel of the Nyambura fame.

In February 2009, he was arrested and whisked off to Mengo court over sh22m he owed Prosco International, a Kampala moneylending firm. During his arrest then, he tried to beat Ronald Kabuubi, a New Vision photographer, who was taking his pictures.

By Francis Kagolo and Jimmy Muwanika