Policeman kills two siblings in botched arrest

Nov 13, 2018

The errant Police officer returned to his detach where he was arrested

Police in East Kyoga region are holding one of their own for allegedly shooting dead two brothers in Tajar Village, Kamutur sub-county in Bukedea District.

36-year-old Police Constable (PC) James Loduk no. 473724, attached to the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU) in Tajar Detach, allegedly gunned down Geoffrey Wepukulu, 33, and his brother Iddi Makomere, 31, on Saturday at around 6am.  

Loduk had gone to arrest a man, Martin Mukwahama, after a resident Harriet Namaye reported a case of assault against him on October 25.

In the process, Wepukulu and Makomere who are siblings of the suspect, allegedly attacked Loduk and attempted to grab his gun.

Michael Odongo, the East Kyoga Police spokesperson said during the struggle, Loduk shot Wepukulu dead before shooting Makomere about 300 metres from their home as he fled from the suspect's irate relatives.

ast yoga olice spokesperson ichael dongo hoto by mmanuel lomuEast Kyoga Police spokesperson Michael Odongo. Photo by Emmanuel Alomu

 

According to Odongo, Loduk returned to his detach where he was arrested and taken to Bukedea Central Police Station to answer charges of murder.

"Other Police officers who went to carry out the arrest left him behind. He used a short cut and rushed to arrest the suspect alone," he said.

Odongo disclosed that motorcycle registration number UED 564Z used by the relative of Namaye the complainant to transport Loduk as well as five houses belonging her were burnt to ashes.  

He said the bodies were taken to Bukedea Health Centre IV for a post-mortem. Police met the burial expenses of the dead siblings.

Odongo discouraged locals from attacking armed Police officers on duty.

Early this year, a Uganda Peoples Defence Forces soldier in Tajar Parish grabbed the gun of a Police officer who had gone to arrest him and shot him in the legs, something that has left him confined to a wheelchair.

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