PC Lubega Steven, a victim in Sunday morning shootings at Kapchorwa police station, who sustained injuries to the chest and both legs, and was transferred in critical condition to Mbale Referral Hospital, has succumbed to the injuries.
At around 12:19a.m on Sunday morning, a suspected gang of criminals operating in the Mt. Elgon Forest area that straddles the border between Uganda and Kenya, attacked Kapchorwa Police station, in Kapchorwa District, and rescued their colleague, Chemusaka John, who had been arrested in connection with, two aggravated robberies, of guns from Uganda Wildlife Officers on the 29th February, 2016, in Kween District.
The suspect had been transferred from Kween to Kapchorwa Distrcit Police Headquarters.
The Police in Kapchorwa responded to the surprise attack and repulsed the attackers, killing one whose body is yet to be identified. One Police Officer, PC Kaddu Hakim, was also killed during the attack, and three others injured, one critically.
These include; IP Musumba Jeremiah, who took a shot to the right thigh, and PC Rukundo Junior, who was hit by a bullet fragment to the chest, and are admitted at Kapchorwa Main Hospital in serious condition. Their colleague, PC Lubega Steven, was transferred in critical condition, to Mbale Referral Hospital where he would later die.
The preliminary investigation indicates, the attacker’s goal of rescuing their colleague was facilitated by a Police Officer, PC Labu Siraje, a born of the area in Ngangata village, Kaptanya Sub-county, Kapchorwa District, and is attached to the Field Force Unit.
According to police spokesperson Fred Enanga, Labu has been arrested and is helping with investigations.
It is alleged he led the attackers to the heavily protected areas of military cover, where four of the attackers opened rifle fire indiscriminately blocking the military from advancing, and guided the other six to the police cells where they rescued Chemusaka John, and thereafter, to the armory which they attempted to break in vain.
The attackers are believed to be under the command of Chelimo Julius, a wanted notorious UPDF deserter, who is actively involved in expanding his gang network by acquiring more guns and recruiting more criminals into his illegal trade.
“A joint security operation comprising of the Police, Military and Uganda Wildlife Authority, is ongoing to track the attackers for arrest.” Says Enanga.
Security alerts have been disseminated to all units in the region particularly the Districts of Mbale, Kween, Kapchorwa, and Bukwo which comprise the neighborhood of the Mt. Elgon forest area.
He adds; “As Police, we strongly condemn the attack on our colleagues, and do express our deepest sympathies and condolences to the immediate family and relatives of PC Kaddu Hakim, may his soul rest in peace. We also wish a speedy recovery to the wounded officers. “
The Police has put resources behind this incident, to ensure culprits, are tracked down, arrested and prosecuted, as we continue in our mission to secure the safety of the public, even through sacrifice. We shall never bow down to any form of threat.