Three police officers attached to Ntungamo Central Police Station have been arrested in connection with the fatal shooting of a 26-year-old boda boda rider suspected of stealing a motorcycle in Kisoro District.
The deceased has been identified as Mwijuke Hassan, a resident of Gafuruzo Parish in Nyarubuye Sub County.
According to police, the incident occurred on Thursday at around 9:15am at Gaseve Village in Nyakinama Sub County, Kisoro District. Hassan was allegedly shot by Police Constable (PC) Okedi Muhammad, 25, during an operation to recover a motorcycle that had reportedly been stolen from Mbarara City.
PC Okedi, who is attached to Ntungamo Central Police Station, was conducting the operation together with Corporal Niyonzima Patson and Corporal Abisinguza Gerald. The three officers have since been detained at Kisoro Central Police Station as investigations into the shooting continue.
Kigezi Region Police spokesperson Elly Maate said the motorcycle, registration number UGA 313U, a red Bajaj Boxer, had reportedly been stolen on March 6, 2026, from Rwenturagara Cell in Mbarara City.
Maate says Hassan visited the home of his former employer, Benson Nambajira, where he had previously worked as a casual labourer. He reportedly told Nambajira’s wife that her husband had sent him to pick the motorcycle. Since she had seen him working for her husband before, she handed over the keys and the motorcycle.
However, when Nambajira returned home later that evening, his wife informed him about the incident. Attempts to reach Hassan by phone were unsuccessful, raising suspicion that the motorcycle had been stolen.
The following day, March 7, Nambajira reported the matter at Kakika Police Station in Mbarara City.
On March 8, Nambajira contacted his sister in Ntungamo for assistance. She reportedly connected him to officers at Ntungamo Central Police Station who helped review surveillance footage. The footage allegedly showed the motorcycle passing through Ntungamo on the day it was reported stolen.
Police officers then launched efforts to track down the suspect and recover the motorcycle.
On Wednesday, the three officers travelled to Kisoro District, arriving at around 11:00pm and spending the night at a lodge. On Thursday, they reported their presence at Kisoro Central Police Station before proceeding with the operation.
According to Maate, when the officers reached Hassan’s home, they were informed that he had just left. They later traced him along the Kisoro–Bunagana road where he was allegedly attempting to pick up a female passenger using the suspected stolen motorcycle.
Maate say the officers attempted to arrest him, but he allegedly jumped onto the motorcycle and tried to flee. PC Okedi reportedly fired warning shots in the air ordering him to stop, but when he allegedly failed to comply, the officer shot him in the head, killing him instantly.
After the incident, the officers returned to Kisoro Central Police Station and reported the matter. The District Police Commander then deployed the District CID officer, Scene of Crime Officers and the homicide team to the scene.
Police documented the scene and recovered six cartridges which have been exhibited as evidence.
Maate confirmed that the officers involved have been arrested to assist with ongoing investigations into the shooting.
