Details emerge on the Bunamwaya murder

The camera in front of the Police station captured everything before and after the shooting. Photos by Stuart Yiga

MURDER                 POLICE

The Tuesday last week afternoon shootout that led to the death of two police officers and one LDU operative at Bunamwaya followed a bitter quarrel.

Ben Ojilong who allegedly shot his colleagues had been advised to seek the intervention of the LC1 chairperson or Court, to resolve the matter which he was pursuing.

He had been approached by a resident who was complaining over nonpayment of rent. He approached his boss, Corporal Alex Opito, who advised him that this was a civil matter in which Police had no interest.

 Kyomugisha, one of Opito's wives with her daughter

Ojilong looked contented after the OC of Bunamwaya also intervened and sided with what Opito had earlier told him.

Both parties retreated to there residences and there seemed to be no trouble as the matter had been resolved.
However, Ojilong returned with a loaded AK47 riffle and stood at the station. He started swearing that Opito would soon understand what he (Ojilong) is made of.

"Today I want to show you that I do not joke. Do not think I had been given money to ask you to help my friend. I am a rich man I can even pull out a million shillings and give it to you," Ojilong reportedly told Opito.

 
Opito, who looked disturbed allegedly called his relative and said: "Odong, have you seen how drunken people behave?" referring to Ojilong, who continuously insulted him while holding his rifle.

"Actually those were Opito's last words because as soon as he stated so, Ojilong lost his tampers and opened fire, killing him on spot and after said: "Have you seen how I do not joke?" a witness narrated.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Ojilong was under the influence of alcohol at the time when he went on a rampage and shot dead his colleagues.

The investigating officers on Wednesday interrogated a number of witnesses that included Isaac Odong, Tonny Enipu, and another one.

The witnesses also told Police that everything started when an unidentified landlord visited Bunamwaya Police, with intent to open up a criminal case against his tenant, for failure to pay rent.

 
He added that after clearing his colleague, he also shot two local defence unit officers who had come to the station and tried to plead to him (Ojilong) to cool down.

"First, he shot Cheprotich Muhindane in the stomach, and also injured Abel Sande's hand with a bullet before he turned a gun muzzle on himself, and shattered his head," said the witness.

Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire said the LDU officer who had sustained injuries was later pronounced dead on arrival at Kitebi Health Centre, hence bringing the total number of the dead to three.

"The bodies of the victims have already been handed over to there respective relatives for burial, as investigations continue," said Owoyesigyire.

He also revealed that detectives have finalized with recording statements from the key eyewitnesses, to help them ascertain what exactly transpired on a fateful day.

"Anytime we shall forward the file to the Director of Public Prosecution for legal advice, although the case is likely to be closed since the suspected killer also shot himself dead," said Owoyesigyire.

Detectives also retrieved video footage from the camera which was planted in front of the Police, that captured the scuffle as it unfolded up to the end.

 Opito       

Meanwhile, Adrine Kyomugisha, one of the widows to the late Opito, told New Vision, that prior to the shooting of her husband, Ojilong had threatened her and there siblings over unknown reasons.

"This is why I disagree with those who say that Ojilong killed my husband over a file matter," said Kyomugisha. 

 Opito's wife and the children

WHO IS OJILONG?
He was born in Ngoro, village, in Soroti district. He joined Police in 2005, as a Police Constable. At the time of his death, he had served at Bunamwaya Community Police for a period of three years.

WHO IS OPITO?
He was born in Egwang village in Loro Sub-County, in Oyam district. He is survived by 10 children and three wives who are Anna Atim (with eight children), Evalyne Taaka, mother to a Primary-Five-12-year-old Patricia Aciaro and Adrine Kyomugisha, mother to a 3-year-old Diana.