A 28-year-old police officer was lynched by angry mourners on Sunday while on duty at a funeral in Ibanda District.
The incident occurred during the burial of Kahangire Lazarus, an inmate who recently died while in custody at Nyabuhikye Government Prison.
The deceased officer has been identified as No. 75290 Police Constable (PC) Chemonges Suleiman, who was attached to Bisheshe Police Station in Ibanda District.
According to SP Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police spokesperson, PC Suleiman had been deployed to provide security at the funeral of Kahangire Lazarus.
Kahangire was on remand for a case of attempted murder under file number IBD CRB 849/2023. The case reportedly stemmed from a land dispute between the family of Mbabazi Vincent and his brothers.
SP Kasasira stated that PC Suleiman arrived at the funeral ahead of his colleagues and was immediately attacked by a mob believed to be relatives of the deceased inmate. The attackers accused the police of being responsible for Kahangire’s death while in custody.
Police later responded to the scene and recovered an SMG rifle, serial number UG POL 563619069, with 16 rounds of ammunition. PC Suleiman’s body was taken to Ruhoko Health Centre mortuary, pending a postmortem examination.
The police confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing.
