Mityana police constable stabbed to death, Gulu boyfriend held

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GULU — A female police constable attached to Mityana District has died from knife wounds sustained during a scuffle with her boyfriend in Gulu City.

Harriet Akera succumbed to her critical injuries at St Mary’s Hospital Lacor.

The primary suspect is 26-year-old Dennis Apire of Laliya cell in Bardege Layibi Division, who fled the scene. He was later nabbed by enraged civilians who handed him over to police detectives for questioning. 

Preliminary reports indicate that it all started on Tuesday afternoon, about 2:39pm, when Akera and Apire, identified as her boyfriend, had a heated verbal exchange before the dispute escalated into physical violence.

Eyewitness accounts indicate that the suspect used a kitchen knife to inflict four deep wounds on the officer.

"Akera sustained life-threatening injuries to her right neck, her abdomen, and her thigh, resulting in heavy blood loss," said a detective who visited the scene.

Following the stabbing, Apire attempted to flee the scene on foot, weaving through the city streets to evade capture. However, his escape was thwarted by local boda-boda riders who pursued and cornered him until officers from the Gulu Central Police Station arrived to take him into custody. A police officer from the Gulu Central Police station came and documented the crime scene and gathered evidence from the initial point of contact.

In a desperate race against time, Akera was first taken to Lubii medical centre, but the medics advised transfer, describing the case as severe. 

Joseph Karugaba, the District Police Commander attached to Gulu City, confirmed that Akera died shortly after she was sent to St Mary’s Hospital, Lacor.

He also identified Akera as a police constable attached to Namukozii police station in Mityana district.

The deceased hails from Nwoya District, Karugaba revealed.

The police boss also confirmed that Akera had travelled from Mityana district on Tuesday night to meet with Akera on Wednesday morning. When Akera arrived, they met at around 9:10am, but later separated for unknown engagements. Later in the day, at around 2:00pm, the two met at Lagara road, where Apire operates a mobile money business. It’s alleged that that is where the argument began. This case has been registered at Gulu central police station as CRB207/2026.