POLICE | INSECURITY | GUNS

LUWERO - Tension is high in Luwero district after armed thugs attacked and killed yet another security personnel in Wobulenzi town today, December 7, 2022.

Leon Odong, a guard attached to SGA security company was taken unawares and shot dead by a pistol-wielding assailant who attacked him at an Advance Microfinance branch that he was guarding at about midday.

The assailant took off with the deceased's G3 gun.

Eyewitness account 

Witnesses, who were near the crime scene, said they saw a lone assailant who was shabbily dressed moving near the victim after which they heard gunshots that forced the crowd to scamper in all directions.

According to the witness, the lone assailant later disappeared in the nearby Wampamba zone, a crowded slum area of Wobulenzi town.

Security combing for assailant 

Luwero deputy Resident District Commissioner Marian Kaberuka said a combined force of Police and army have been deployed to comb the area in search of the assailant.

There have lately been several attacks on security personnel and installations currently sweeping across the country. The latest attack comes barely a week after a recent similar incident when thugs killed and disarmed a UPDF soldier who was on duty in Kapeeka town, Nakaseke district.

Attacks on security personnel where guns and lives have been lost

• On July 25, 2022, unknown machete-wielding men attacked a traffic police roadblock at Kiwumba on the Kampala-Gulu highway and killed a Police officer who was guarding the traffic police on duty. Guns were stolen.

• On August 1st this year, two officers attached to Kayabwe Police station, Paul NKolo and his colleague, Lawrence Otim, were attacked by armed people who were travelling in a vehicle. The attackers wanted to take guns from the two officers who were heading for night duty at a Catholic church at Mitala Maria, parish, Buwama town council. In the fracas, Otim was shot and injured, but the officers managed to save the guns.

• On October 31, 2022, armed men attacked Busiika Police station in Luwero district, shot and killed two Police officers and later disappeared with their guns.

• On November 17, 2022, when unknown people attacked and killed Sgt Simon Peter Eyagu, who was guarding at Ambercourt road close to Gadaffi Barracks Jinja Cantonment. Two guns were also stolen. (Security said the two guns have since been recovered following a shoot-out in Iganga district on November 26, 2022.

• A security guard belonging to GKO Security was beaten to near death and robbed of a firearm on November 21, 2022. The attack was in Kasangati town council, Wakiso district.

According to Deputy IGP Geofrey Katsigazi Tumusiime, the Police, together with other security organs, are handling the matter and all the culprits behind these crimes will be arrested and charged before the lawful courts.

He made the remarks during a visit to Katonga policing region, which is made up of the districts of Mpigi, Gomba and Butambala last month.