Police in Masaka are investigating the killing of a police officer who was shot dead while returning home after completing guard duties, with three private security guards arrested to assist with the inquiry.
The deceased has been identified as No. 51983 Corporal Robert Onegiu, who was attached to Kimaanya Police Station.
According to the Greater Masaka Regional Police spokesperson, Twaha Kasirye, the incident happened on Friday at about 4:30pm. Corporal Onegiu had just completed his deployment at St Jude Secondary School in Kyabakuza Trading Centre, Masaka City, and was heading back when he came under attack.
Police said unknown assailants allegedly intercepted the officer, dragged him into a nearby eucalyptus plantation and shot him once in the right side of the rib cage, killing him instantly.
Investigators are yet to establish the motive behind the attack. However, they described the incident as unusual because the killers left behind the officer’s AK-47 rifle. The weapon was recovered at the scene with a magazine containing 29 rounds of ammunition.
Crime scene officers from Masaka East Police processed the scene, documented evidence and recorded statements from witnesses. The body was later taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for a post-mortem examination.
As investigations intensified, police arrested three suspects identified as Aaron Anguma, Joseph Masereka and Paul Muhwezi. The trio, who work for a private security company, had reportedly been deployed alongside the deceased at St Jude Secondary School.
Police have also seized the suspects’ mobile phones, which will undergo forensic examination as detectives work to establish what led to the fatal shooting and identify those responsible.
