Businessman shot dead in Alebtong

A businessman and a bodaboda motorcyclist who was carrying him were on Friday night shot dead in Ajuri County, Alebtong district by yet unknown assailants who also made off with his unspecified amount of money.

Vincent Opio, 40, and the cyclist were shot dead by unknown assailants on Thursday in Ajuri, Alebtong district 

Reports available indicate that Vincent Opio, 40, a businessman dealing in produce, operating at Abako trading centre had taken his produce to sell in Lira and returned to his store after which he went for refreshment at a joint. 

He then took the bodaboda cyclist identified as Martin Otim, 28, riding motorcycle registration number UDA 372D, Bajaj, red in colour to take him to his home at Ocokomac Village, Amononeno Parish, Abako Sub County but shortly before he reached his home, they were shot dead and all his money taken.

Alebtong DPC Rogers Seguya confirmed the incident which he said coincided with the loss of a gun from Abako Police post a week ago.

"We are appealing to the wanainchi to help us with information. It's true a gun was lost in the area and what a coincident that an incident of this nature has occurred in the same area," Seguya said.

He said the bodies were taken to Alebtong Health Centre IV for post mortem. 

One Robert Okino, a relative to the deceased businessman said the deceased had more than sh8m with him at the time he was shot dead. He said the man was given sh6m from Lira by some company to buy produce and another sh2m to take to another produce dealer and all the money was taken. He could not tell if the man had his personal money also. 

North Kyoga Police spokesperson Manshur Suwed said the incident happened at around 11pm on Thursday at Oyitobeno village, Angolotok parish, Abako Sub County.

He said the case is registered under SD 02/22/01/2016 

"Opio a produce dealer had brought some produce in Lira town and went back to his store in Abako and later went to a drinking joint. As he was returning to his home, he was gunned down just near his home together with the boda boda cyclist," Manshur said on phone.

Manshur said on Friday Last week police lost a gun at Abako Police post. The gun belonged to Police Constable Moses Opio who reported the loss but police is not convince that it really got lost.

"We are still investigating the circumstance under which the gun got lost," Manshur stated.
He said the police constable Opio is being held together with his brother in law identified as Samuel Ogwal of Amugu Trading Centre to help with investigation.

"We feel they connived and Opio just gave his gun out. We are made to understand that it's the same gun that was used to gun the two down," he said.

The said gun registration number UG/DOL 56-369297-16516was later on Friday recovered hidden in an ant hill at a place called Acangweno Village, Okwalongwen Parish, Okwalongwen Sub County, Dokolo North. 

"The gun got lost on January 16 with 30 rounds of ammunition but we recovered it with only 18 rounds. This means 12 rounds were used."

Manshur said the gun was recovered by children playing football. He appreciated the efforts made by UPDF Maj Simba Ongol who helped to recover the gun.

The police sent their condolence to the bereaved family and promised to investigate the case to its logical conclusion.