Summary:
- Kigezi region police spokesperson, ASP Elly Maate, stated that the suspects, Sgt John Tumwesigye (59), Officer in Charge of Nyanja Police Post, and PC James Owomuhangi, are being held at Kabale Central Police Station following their arrest on Tuesday morning.
KABALE: Police in Kabale District have arrested the Officer in Charge of Nyanja Police Post and a police officer for allegedly shooting dead a 35-year-old man in Maziba Sub County.
Kigezi region police spokesperson, ASP Elly Maate, stated that the suspects, Sgt John Tumwesigye (59), Officer in Charge of Nyanja Police Post, and PC James Owomuhangi, are being held at Kabale Central Police Station following their arrest this morning. The deceased has been identified as Christmas Twinomujuni, a farmer and resident of Rujogoma Cell, Burambira Parish in Kaharo Sub County.
According to Annah Twebaze, the sister of the deceased, she received information last night around 11:00 PM that Twinomujuni had been shot at Claire’s Bar in Nyanja Trading Center, Nyanja Village in Kigarama Parish, Maziba Sub County. Twebaze said that upon reaching the crime scene, she found Twinomujuni lying on the ground. She arranged for transport and rushed him to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, where he died before receiving medical attention.
Twebaze has demanded that the responsible party cover the burial expenses and called for government intervention in the matter. She noted that Twinomujuni left behind two children and a widow.
CUE IN TWEBAZE….ON THE MATTER…..RR//
Former Kaharo Sub County LC3 Chairman, Dastan Muhereza, condemned the act and criticized the police officers’ unprofessional conduct. He called for justice in the matter.
CUE IN MUHEREZA…ON THE MATTER…..RR//
Maate reported that the deceased, along with Dickson Turinawe (31), Niwagaba Levi (30), Ayijuka Jordan (30), and four others still at large, were found around 12:30 AM drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana at Nyanja Trading Center, Maziba Sub County. Maate said that the Officer in Charge went to disperse the group and asked them to leave the bar.
“When they refused, the officers attempted to arrest two individuals for smoking marijuana. Unfortunately, the deceased and others resisted, blocking the arrest and attempting to confront and disarm the officer, leading to a scuffle. The Officer in Charge shot to disperse them, injuring the deceased in the leg, which caused him to bleed and eventually die”. Maate stated.
He added “A case file CRB 408/2024 was opened to investigate the matter. A team of officers, led by the OC Station ASP Akanyijuka Andrew, OC CID D/SP Mukama Hakim, Regional SOCO AIP Mugabe, and other detectives, visited, examined, and documented the crime scene. Relevant witness statements were obtained, and a postmortem was conducted”.
Maate also revealed that three suspects were arrested in connection with the attempt to disarm the officer as inquiries into the incident continue to determine the way forward.
CUE IN MAATE….ON ARREST……RR/ENG//
