KYOTERA – Police in Kyotera District, Greater Masaka region, are holding a 34-year-old man for attempting to steal a gun from a police officer while on duty.
The suspect reportedly attempted to steal the gun from Mr John Watira. Preliminary police investigations indicate that the suspect attacked Mr Watira who was guarding Ryna’s Pub in Kalisizo Town and placed him at knife point before ordering him to surrender the gun. Mr Watira reportedly made an alarm that attracted people, forcing the attacker to flee. He was later traced using a phone he forgot at the crime scene.
Southern Region Police Spokesperson Lameck Kigozi confirmed the arrest, saying police investigations into the matter had started.
The incident comes on the backdrop of numerous unresolved killings that have rocked the greater Masaka region for about two years. Police records show that at least 200 people have been attacked in the greater Masaka Sub-region in the past couple of years. Of these, 12 have been killed.
Last year, at least 30 people were killed in similar circumstances and up to 50 others were hospitalised in Lwengo, Rakai, Kalungu and Masaka districts.
On January 1 this year, five people including a retired police officer were killed by attackers between midnight and 2am as Ugandans were welcoming the year 2018 in Bukomansimbi and Lwengo districts.
The attackers armed with guns, pangas and clubs moved to different villages of Kiryasaaka in Kkingo Sub-county in Lwengo District, Kisojjo, Kyabagoma and Kyamabaale in Kibinge Sub-county in Bukomansimbi District robbing and hacking people.
This prompted President Yoweri Museveni to visit the area. Then IGP Kale Kayihura also camped in the area to spearhead the operations against the assailants. Gen Kayihura visited each of the affected families and pledged to bring the culprits to book.
