NEWS- The territorial Police in Rukungiri are investigating circumstances under which a Uganda Prison warder attached to Rukungiri Government Prison was shot dead.
ASP Elly Maate the Kigezi regional Police Spokesman told the press that the incident occurred on Thursday morning, 27th February 2025 at around 0100hrs at Babuuze bar and lodge at Kakabada A” cell, Rukungiri municipality.
Maate narrated the incident resulted into the death of No:16448 L/CPL Ojok Boniface 33 years old, a prison warder attached to Uganda prisons Rukungiri, who succumbed to gunshot wounds.
The suspect according tpo Maate is Byaruhanga Peter 22 years, a security guard attached to S.W.A.T.T security limited, a resident of Kakabada A cell, in Rukungiri municipality.
Police statement indicates that on Wednesday 26th February 2025, Ojok Boniface (Deceased) went with No:20355 Warder Otim James to Babuuze bar and lodges to watch football. At the end of the match, the deceased gave his phone to his colleague and went for a short call behind the bar.
That shortly, as Otim was still waiting for him, he heard a gunshot. This prompted him to move towards the gun’s short sound direction.
The Police spokesman pointed out that when he reached, Otim found his colleague had been shot dead by Byaruhanga Peter a security guard at Babuuze bar and lodges.
He immediately brought it to the notice of the in-charge Uganda prisons -Rukungiri ASP Kilara Ceaser Awany, who also reported it at Rukungiri police station.
The suspect alleges that the deceased had attempted to steal a generator while other accounts indicate that the two were involved in an argument which prompted the securiko guard to shoot the officer.
The scene was visited, processed and documented, the gun that was shot was recovered and identified as UG POS 56 4000616-10341 with 3 rounds of ammunition and were exhibited.
The suspect was accordingly arrested and the body conveyed to Rwakabengo Health Center III mortuary for postmortem.
This is not the first time death is reported at the same happening place. In September 2023, Police arrested five suspects to help in investigations of the alleged murder of 32-year-old man Muhwezi Varesi, the then night watchman at Babuuze Rest House and night club.
According to on 18th September at around 2:00 am towards morning at Rwamahwa cell Kinyasano Ward, Western Division Rukungiri Municipality / District, while one Joseph Bwambale the manager of the above club was at his place of work, was approached by some of his customers who had just left the Rest house going to their respective homes. They complained of how they were intercepted by a group of people who attempted to rob them of their belongings.
It’s further alleged that, upon receipt of the information, he called the night watchman/Askali & alerted him.
Shortly after, one of the so-called robbers was identified & seen while standing near the gate of the Rest house whereby the Night watchman managed to arrest him with the help of some of the customers.
It was at that time when his colleagues began throwing stones at the night watchman & his group with the intent to rescue their colleague that the watchman was overwhelmed & left the suspect at liberty.
As the watchman was trying to rescue himself, it was when the suspect picked a stone & used it to hit the night watchman’s head who eventually fell unconscious.
He was rushed to the Doctor’s case clinic in Rukungiri & later referred to Mbarara Referral Hospital where he died moments later.
A report was registered by the manager at Rukungiri Police Station, and the scene of the crime was visited, examined, and documented. The body was subjected to post-mortem and five suspects were arrested for questioning.
The happenings have now led to numerous concerned residents calling upon the District security subject the place to thorough investigations before the situation goes out of hand.
