Soldier shoots dead Napak police officer at protected incident scene

Napak, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | A police officer in Napak district has been shot dead while visiting a scene of a fire incident involving a Fuso lorry loaded with goats.

Cpl. John Francis Osema attached to Lorengechora CID department was killed on Tuesday night by a UPDF officer who was securing the vehicle registration number UBE 301G, which had had earlier caught fire and the UPDF soldiers were deployed to provide security.

The incident of the fire happened at around 5:30pm in Agwee village, Lorengechora parish, Lorengechora sub county in Napak along Moroto-Soroti highway and police from Moroto regional headquarters rescued the vehicle and 190 goats out of 204.

According to the regional police spokesperson Michael Longole, information about the burnt truck reached the OC Lorengechora who went to the scene along with Cpl Osema, and he decided to visit the scene at 10:00pm in company of OC CID riding on boda bodas.

Police says there was no information shared between the UPDF deployed to keep the lorry and the visiting team led by OC Lorengechora.

Upon their arrival, the soldier on guard fired several bullets at the officer killing him on the spot. The rest including three boda boda riders escaped unhurt, police said.

According to Longole, police have opened investigations into the killing and three UPDF officers on guard have been arrested.

“A team of senior officers visited the scene and we have recovered the rifle of the deceased, the scene was well documented and we have obtained statements from the three boda boda riders who went with them to the scene,” said Longole.

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