A police officer attached to Balawoli Police Post has been arrested for allegedly causing the death of a 19-year-old man during an attempted arrest in Kamuli District.
The officer, identified as Sgt Etapu Jimmy, was reportedly on duty when the tragic incident occurred in Butalage II, Kawaaga, Balawoli Town Council on the morning of February 17, 2025.
According to preliminary police investigations, Sgt Etapu had booked out at around 4:00 AM to arrest a suspect, Badaaza Joseph, who was wanted for assault. However, the arrest did not go as planned.
“During the process, the suspect started alarming, and a scuffle ensued as other people attempted to rescue him. This state of affairs prompted the officer in charge to discharge two bullets in self-defense, but unfortunately, a stray bullet injured Kawongolo Diliisa, the brother of the suspect,” ASP Michael Kasadha, the Busoga North Regional Police Spokesperson, said in a statement.
Kawongolo was rushed to Kamuli General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Following the incident, a team of police officers led by the Officer-in-Charge of Balawoli Police Post responded to the scene, leading to the arrest of Sgt Etapu.
“Further investigations are ongoing, and a postmortem is yet to be carried out,” ASP Kasadha added.
The police have assured the public that the matter will be thoroughly investigated to ensure justice is served.
