Retired detective breaks down in court over fears for his life
The former detective, who testified on August 10, 2026, against Ambrose Ayo, a man facing several cases linked to motorcycle robberies and murder, told Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala that he had been forced to leave his home in Ngetta, Lira district, and seek refuge in Nwoya district.
Ayo is facing several cases involving the alleged aggravated robbery of motorcycles and the murder of riders. (Credit: Hudson Apunyo)
LIRA - A retired police detective broke down in tears before the High Court in Lira after telling the judge that he feared for his life following his testimony against an alleged motorcycle robbery suspect.
The former detective, who testified on August 10, 2026, against Ambrose Ayo, a man facing several cases linked to motorcycle robberies and murder, told Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala that he had been forced to leave his home in Ngetta, Lira district, and seek refuge in Nwoya district.
The witness said his fears intensified after he noticed three people allegedly following him after he had appeared in court to testify in the case.
He told court that after the hearing, he started walking towards his home in Ngetta when three people riding a motorcycle approached him near the railway crossing on Lira-Kitgum road.
“Then I started walking on foot. When I reached the railway crossing on Kitgum Road, three people came riding on a motorcycle, stopped and asked, ‘Mzee, where are you going?’ I said, ‘I’m going to my home.’”
The retired detective said he identified one of the men as Adupa, a former co-accused whom police had handled in the same case and who had since been convicted, served his sentence and been released.
“He said, ‘Mzee, let me take you.’ I told him, ‘No, thanks.’ I started following the railway crossing coming to the railway station. They were there standing.”
The witness said he later called a boda boda rider to take him home but noticed the same people waiting near a petrol station at the junction of Apala and Kitgum roads in Ngetta.
The retired detective said that, because of his experience as an investigator, he decided not to sleep at his home that night.
“As I said, I was an investigator. At night, I did not sleep at my home. I went to sleep at my brother’s home, coming back, they had cut my dog on the back of the neck.”
The witness then broke down in tears.
“My Lord, my life is in danger concerning this case. I’m now taking refuge in Nwoya because I can’t sleep at my home. They can kill me there,” he told the court.
The emotional testimony prompted Justice Kalibbala to instruct the prosecutor to work with the assistant registrar to ensure that the witness’s security was addressed.
Adupa, whom the witness identified as one of the people he allegedly saw following him, was convicted through a plea bargain about two years ago and subsequently served his sentence.
Murder and robbery charges
Ayo is facing several cases involving the alleged aggravated robbery of motorcycles and the murder of riders.
Police identified Ayo in May 2023 as an alleged leader of a criminal network targeting boda boda riders in the Lango sub-region and neighbouring districts.
Police alleged that members of the network lured riders with apparently genuine transport requests before attacking them and stealing their motorcycles.
During an operation in Oyam district in August 2022, police reportedly searched Ayo’s residence and recovered six suspected stolen motorcycles and spare parts.
One of the motorcycles, registration number UFJ 741R, was believed to have been stolen from Engim, who was later found murdered in Lira city.
A subsequent Flying Squad operation in May 2023 reportedly recovered 18 motorcycles from Ayo’s home, including three Yamaha motorcycles, 15 Bajaj Boxers and two others without registration numbers.
Police said Ayo was on the run at the time.
The murder case centres on the death of Engim, whom the prosecution alleges Ayo murdered on August 27, 2022, in Lira city.
According to the prosecution, Ayo allegedly struck Engim with a hammer and robbed him of his motorcycle.
He is facing murder and aggravated robbery charges before the Lira High Court.