By Weswa Ronnie
SIRONKO
A Police officer attached to Butandiga police post in Bukyabo Sub County, Sironko district has shot dead a resident who allegedly obstructed them from arresting a suspect.
The deceased is known as Bryan Gagula aged 21 years, a resident of Kigo village, Bubudeya parish Buchabo Sub County in Sironko district.
According to Andrew Nasawali, a councillor representing Elgon sub county neighbouring Bukyabo Sub County, also an eyewitness, the incident happened yesterday 20th April, 2023 in the morning.
He adds that police officers wanted to arrest a one Paulo Garusha, 25 years old on allegations of stealing pole trees from his neighbour’s Eucalyptuses tree plantation garden.
Nasawali says that they brought a police sniffer dog which went direct to Garusha’s house but during the arrest, community members wanted to stop police from arresting the suspect claiming they can’t trust the police dog.
Denis Balwaniregha Ephraim, the Sironko Resident District Commissioner confirmed the shooting saying that Garusha was shot by a stray bullet in the process of community members fighting police officers who wanted to arrest the suspect.
He condemned the community members against fighting and obstructing police officers while conducting their duties.
Rogers Taitika the Elgon region police spokesperson says that they have not yet arrested their officer but the body of the deceased has been taken to Mbale city mortuary for post-mortem.
