Arua City, Uganda: Police have confirmed the death of Police Constable Wadri William, attached to Ayivu East Division in Arua City, who succumbed to a gunshot wound after being hit by a stray bullet during a police operation to quell violent mob unrest.
According to police, PC Wadri died in the early hours of Saturday, January 3, 2026, at Arua Regional Referral Hospital, shortly after undergoing surgery to remove the bullet lodged in his stomach.
West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson Josephine Angucia confirmed the death, saying the officer was injured while responding to a volatile scene involving an alleged domestic murder and a retaliatory mob attack in Ayivu East Division.
“The deceased officer and other police personnel had responded to a case where a man allegedly murdered his wife, after which relatives of the deceased woman mobilised and carried out revenge attacks,” Angucia said.
She explained that the situation quickly escalated, with angry in-laws torching at least 15 houses and destroying property as police attempted to stop mob action.
During the operation, Angucia says police fired warning shots into the air to disperse the violent crowd that had turned against officers. “Police officers shot live bullets in the air to disperse the angry in-laws who had started attacking police officers,” she noted.
However, two people were struck by stray bullets during the chaos. One of them, identified as Otubo, died on the spot. PC Wadri William was rushed to hospital with a gunshot wound to the stomach but later succumbed to his injuries.
“He died early morning of January 3, 2026, after an operation to remove the bullet from his body,” Angucia said.
Police condemned acts of mob justice, warning that taking the law into one’s own hands not only undermines investigations but also escalates violence and leads to unnecessary loss of life.
Angucia urged members of the public to report crimes through lawful channels and allow police to handle investigations.
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