The Kigezi regional police spokesperson, Mr. Elly Maate, has confirmed the arrests of Sgt. John Tumwesigye, in charge of Nyanja police post, and his subordinate, PC James Owomuhangi.
Preliminary investigations by the police suggest that the two officers, during an early morning patrol on Tuesday, shot and killed Chris Twinomujuni, a resident of Rujongoma village in Kaharo sub-county, Kabale District.
“While on an early morning patrol on Tuesday at Nyanja trading centre at around 3AM, the accused police officers encountered a group of individuals drinking alcohol and smoking bangi. A scuffle broke out, and Sgt Tumwesigye fired shots to disperse the crowd. A stray bullet hit Twinomujuni in the leg, causing him to bleed to death. The police apprehended three suspects, while others escaped,” Mr Maate said.
He clarified that the police officers and the suspected criminals were arrested to assist in investigating the case.
Ms Anah Twebaze and Jonan Kamuntu, both relatives to the deceased, asked the government to incur all burial expenses and later take care of the financial needs of the deceased’s family members.
“The deceased has been the sole breadwinner for his family and now that his life has been terminated by a government worker, the government should take care of all the financial needs of his wife and his two children,” they said.
The former LCIII chairman for Kaharo Sub County in Kabale District, Mr. Dustan Muhereza, described the deceased as a humble and hardworking resident who earned a respectable income from farming.
“I was surprised to learn that a police officer shot and killed the suspect yet he had other alternative means of handling the matter other than taking the law in his hands. It is my prayer that the accused police officer gets the punishment he deserves for the offence he committed,” he said.