Bugiri, Uganda: Police in Bugiri District have arrested two of their own officers following the fatal shooting of a civilian during an early morning operation to arrest a suspect.
The suspects are ASP Wagaba Innocent, the Officer in Charge of Buwunga Police Station, and No. 45470 Cpl Okwalinga Stephen, both attached to the same station.
The deceased has been identified as Mugoya Alamanzani, 33, a resident of Nambale Village, Nambale Parish in Buwunga Sub-County.
According to Busoga East Regional Police Spokesperson ASP Micheal Kasadha, the incident occurred at around 4:40 am on Friday as officers attempted to arrest Mugoya Nasiru on assault charges.
“Prior to the occurrence, the police officers in question were effecting an arrest of one Mugoya Nasiru on charges of assault,” ASP Kasadha said.
Police say that after the suspect was apprehended, he raised an alarm that attracted relatives and neighbours who allegedly attacked the officers in an attempt to rescue him.
“His relatives confronted the officers with pangas, sticks and stones. In response to the threat, the officers discharged bullets to disperse the mob,” Kasadha added.
During the chaos, Mugoya Alamanzani was shot and killed.
Conflicting Accounts Emerge
However, local leaders have raised concerns over the manner in which the operation was conducted. Nambale Village Chairperson Stephen Bogere told DailyExpress on Friday that police stormed the home of a resident, Magemeso Bashir, during the arrest.
“They came to arrest one of the sons, but in the process they killed Mugoya Abdallah, who was innocent and a humble man,” Bogere said.
He criticised police for allegedly failing to coordinate with local leaders and conducting the operation at night. “Police should always engage LC1 leaders when carrying out arrests. Night operations like this create panic and unnecessary violence,” he added.
Police confirmed that the scene was visited and documented by detectives from Bugiri CPS, with support from Buwunga Police Station.
The body of the deceased was taken to Bugiri General Hospital mortuary for postmortem as investigations continue.
Authorities say the arrest of the two officers is part of efforts to establish accountability and determine the exact circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.
Background to Arrest
Preliminary reports indicate that the suspect, Mugoya Nasiru, was wanted over an assault case stemming from an incident during Eid ul-Fitr celebrations, where he allegedly grabbed and ate a chapati belonging to another resident, sparking a dispute.
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