The deceased is Edirisa Kawongolo, a resident of Kawaaga Trading Center in Balawoli Sub-county, Kamuli District. He was gunned down on Monday morning in the presence of a large crowd that had gathered to witness the unfolding events.
Kamuli police are on the spot for allegedly shooting dead a suspect during an attempted arrest. The deceased is Edirisa Kawongolo, a resident of Kawaaga Trading Center in Balawoli Sub-county, Kamuli District. He was gunned down on Monday morning in the presence of a large crowd that had gathered to witness the unfolding events.
According to eyewitnesses, three armed police officers arrived at the trading center in search of Kawongolo, who was accused of fraudulently obtaining 30,000 Shillings from a complainant in exchange for coffee seedlings that were never delivered.
The officers were reportedly accompanied by the complainant. One witness, speaking on condition of anonymity, said residents attempted to resolve the matter by fundraising 30,000 Shillings to compensate the complainant and prevent Kawongolo’s arrest.
However, the police officers rejected the proposal, insisting on following legal procedures to ensure fairness for both parties. Realizing that police were determined to arrest him, Kawongolo attempted to flee. The officers initially fired warning shots into the air, but when he refused to stop, they allegedly shot at him, killing him on the spot. Another witness reported that the situation quickly turned chaotic, with angry residents pelting the officers with stones in retaliation.
The officers withdrew from the scene, and another police unit later arrived to retrieve Kawongolo’s body. The deceased’s body is currently at Kamuli General Hospital mortuary as investigations continue.
A detective, who requested anonymity, suggested that the shooting may have been triggered by confrontations between the police and the crowd.
She noted that in some communities, there is a growing trend of resisting arrests, which can lead officers—especially those with limited manpower—to resort to force. Busoga North Police Spokesperson Michael Kasadha said they are still compiling reports from the crime scene and will release a detailed statement in due course.
