A Police officer attached to Elgon Region Flying  Squad was killed and three others survived with bullet wounds in an exchange of gun fire with armed suspected thugs near Nabumali Town Council in Mbale district.

The Elgon region Police spokesperson Robert Tukei identified the deceased officer as Detective Sergeant Fred Chemonges while the wounded Police constables included Solomon Ikalati, Charles Mukisa and Stanslus Tukei who were all rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital theater for an emergency operation.

The spokesperson told New Vision that Police received intelligence information that a group of unidentified group of suspected thugs travelling in a car No UAP 283Y had been spotted moving along Mbale-Nabumali road on Thursday afternoon.

Tukei said the Police responded to the intelligence reports but unfortunately the officers were ambushed a short distance away from Nabumali shopping centre adding that the thugs had been using a fake number UAT 112A to dupe the security,

He said the thugs abandoned the vehicle before fleeing into the bush, adding that when the car was checked, the Police found blood stains on the seats an indication that one of the thugs may have been hit by a bullet.

Tukei appealed to the community living in Busoba, Bungokho, Bukasakya, Nyondo, Bukiende sub-counties and Nabumali Town Council areas to be vigilant and report any strange people. He also asked health units to report any person who may seek medical treatment with suspected bullet wounds.

At the time of filing the story a team of Police officers and other security personnel had intensified the search for the suspected armed thugs