Police detectives in East Kyoga Region have commenced investigations into their own Officers at Bukedea Central Police Station following the death of two suspects in the Police custody.
The development follows a postmortem report from Mbale Regional Referral Hospital which indicated that Joseph Okwalinga alias Golola and Michael Ojakol died due to injuries inflicted on them. They died in two separate incidents on January 1, 2022.
After the deaths, a Police preliminary report classified the incidents as suicide. A Press Release by the East Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson indicated that Oscar Gregory Ageca Ojakol committed suicide in the police cells by hanging while Okwalinga reportedly fainted during the search for exhibits. He later died on arrival to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital.
However, the suspects relatives rejected the police preliminary report and demanded an explanation.
On Tuesday, Business in Bukedea came to a standstill when an angry mob stormed the Bukedea CPS demanding answers from the officers.
Police responded with teargas, but the mob did not retreat until the Police leadership gave an audience to selected delegates of the angry community.
The Bukedea Resident District Commissioner Geoffrey Okiswa says that the postmortem report indicates that the suspects were tortured. He asked the security personnel to investigate the matter.
While Ageca says Police has not yet received the report to comment on the matter, the Regional Police Commander for East Kyoga, Rusoke Kituuma confirmed the commencement of investigations against the officers but declined to name any officers in the spotlight.
“We agreed to have a single communication line through our PRO but I can confirm that our regional detectives are on the ground to investigate the matter”, he said on phone.
Relatives of the deceased suspects want the Police to compensate the families and also meet their burial expenses. They insist that the bodies can only be laid to rest after the fulfilment of their conditions.
