District Councilor Arrested Over Murder Of Police Officer

Police in Bukwo is holding a district councilor for allegedly being part of the group that killed a police officer on Thursday last week.  

Arapdison Malinga, the Suam Sub County district councilor was picked by police shortly after the murder of Wilfred Chepukuto, a police officer attached to Anti Stock Theft Unit (ASTU).  

It is alleged that unknown people attacked Chepukuto on Thursday evening at his home in Saptate village, Cheboi parish, Bukwo sub county and stubbed him to death.  

According to Police, the deceased was killed because he has been at the fore front of giving information on the core criminals in the district.  

Rogers Taitika, the Sipi Regional Police spokesperson told URN that investigations in the murder of the police officer linked Arapdison and he was arrested and charged of murder.  

He said that police is still investigating and more people are still wanted for murder. “we have arrested the district councilor for Suam district councilor in connection with the death of our officer and we are still looking for more people,”  said Taitika.

Tom Chesol, the Resident District Commissioner of Bukwo told Uganda Radio Network that the councilor was arrested because is reckless with words and usually castigates violence in the community.  

He said that the security is still investigating circumstances that led to the death of the police officer, but hastened to add that information from locals indicated that the police officer was killed because he has been helping UWA officials to arrest locals.

“It is said that the officer handed over a list of names of locals to UWA which they have been using to arrest people, that is why they killed him, but even that was the cause, that doesn’t warrant the death of an officer” Chesol said.  

URN has learnt that the murder of Chepukuto is connected to the death of two people who were killed last month after conflicts between UWA and the community.  

Sam Cherop, a resident of Kaptolongi Village in Cheboi Parish, was reportedly shot dead by a UWA ranger and the residents also beat up a senior game ranger identified as Samson Dhwerera, attached to UWA station in Bukwo District.

He succumbed to injuries that he sustained after the beating.  

Residents in Bukwo district have been at loggerheads with Uganda Wild Life Authority over park boundaries. The residents accuse UWA and the army of using excessive force to keep them away from their ancestral land.