Police in Kole district have arrested a Police officer for shooting and injuring a civilian in Agege Trading Center for alleged gambling.
The suspect in custody at Kole Central Police Station has been identified Police Constable (PC) Patrick Onen attached to Agege Police Post in Kole District.
The 58-year-old Onen shot James Ogwal on Saturday July 29, 2023 at Agege Trading Center.
He shot him in the stomach and died as he was being rushed to Lira city for medical attention.
According to Jimmy Patrick Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police Spokesperson, the police constable went to quell a group of people who were fighting in Agege Trading Center alone.
Okema added that in attempts to arrest of the victims who resisted arrest because he was drunk, he started shooting live bullets in the air to disperse the community who were throwing both insults and stones at him.
“While a group of people were gambling in Agege trading center, one Ongu Omara complained that Ojok Opio had grabbed his 2000/=, hence this prompted the two to start fighting just in front of Isaac Omuge’s shop and many other people join the fight, Omuge later went to Agege police post after trying to stop people in vain, where Onen Patrick the police officer responded alone and tried to arrest one Ojok Opio, which didn’t go well with community members who looks drunk already, instead they started abusing the police officer including pelting stones at him, in response to quell the angry local and protecting himself, he released some bullets in the air to scare the crowd, unfortunately the bullet hits one person in the stomach,” Okema said.
The deceased body is lying at Lira Regional Referral Hospital mortuary pending postmortem.
Meanwhile Okema added that exhibits of cartridges, gun used by the police officer have been recovered and statements from the witnesses have also been recorded at Kole Central Police Station.
“A case of murder by shooting has been registered at CPS Kole, scene visited led by the OC Station, detectives and SOCO, exhibits of cartridges were recovered, the gun allegedly used by officer has been retrieved and exhibited, statements recorded from relevant witnesses,” Okema added
He called upon the communities to respect police officers who are performing their duties as well as regrets the unfortunate incident.
“This is a very unfortunate incident, we would like to send our condolences to the bereaved family, but also caution very strongly members of the public to always respect police officers while on official duties,” He appealed
