By Ameria Nayebare,
A police officer in Buhweju district on Wednesday shot dead a civilian in a scuffle to arrest a suspect.
The incident occured on Wednesday October 25 at round 08:30 am in Rwajere village, Burere subcounty, Buhweju district.
Martial Tumusiime, the greater Bushenyi region police spokesperson identified the suspect as Police Lanse Corporal, CPL Taremwa Gracious (No 44120),
OC Burere Police Station, Buhweju District while the victim has been identified as Osbert Bitahwa, 23, a resident of Rwajere central cell, Burere in Buhweju district.
It is alleged that on the fateful day, the suspect who was in the company of another police officer PC Mwendya Derick (No 75980 ), and the Rwajere cell LC1 chairperson, Moses Kiwanuka, 42, had gone in the area to effect the arrest of Mayas Katurebe, a suspect charged with offence of obtaining money by false pretences vide Burere Sd Ref 09/19/01/2023
When the trio and the suspect’s mother knocked the suspect door he refused to open, prompting the area chairman to forcefully open the door.
“The suspect came out with a blanket which he used to cover the OC, wrestled him down, In the struggle, he ran away and PC Mwendya ran after him,” police said in a statement.
According to police, the Katurebe was apprehended and arrested but he wrestled PC Mwendya down and Cpl Taremwa intervened. During the scuffle, a bullet discharged and accidentally hit one of the bystanders who was cheating the suspect.
“He used the gun butt to disable the suspect and at this point, the gun discharged the bullet that hit the deceased who stood around with other onlookers cheering the suspect,” Martial told reports.
Martial said they recovered an SMG riffle and one cartridge with 28 rounds at the scene of crime used in the shooting and was taken as an exhibit. The body of the deceased was taken to Nsiika H/centre 4 for postmortem.
Furthermore, the police reported that both suspects ran away and efforts to apprehend them are on.
“The suspect of obtaining money (Katurebe ) ran away with police handcuffs and No 44120 Cpl Taremwa (Suspect) ran away after the incident. Inquiries are at hand”
