Story by Ivan Mugisha
Police in Ibanda District, are investigating circumstances under which a police officer was attacked and killed by a mob at a burial ceremony.
The deceased, identified as Police Constable (PC) Suleiman Chemonges, 28, was attached to Bisheshe Police Station in Ibanda Municipality.
According to SP Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police spokesperson, PC Chemonges had been deployed to provide security at the burial of Kahangire Lazarus—an inmate who recently died at Nyabuhikye Government Prison while on remand for attempted murder.
The charges against Kahangire stemmed from a longstanding land dispute involving the family of one Vincent Mbabazi.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that Chemonges arrived at the burial site in Kyembogo Cell, Kalangala Parish, Bisheshe Division, ahead of his colleagues.
However, tensions quickly escalated when mourners, believed to be relatives and supporters of the deceased, accused the police of being complicit in Kahangire’s death while in custody.
In an attempt to defend himself, Chemongesi fired warning shots, injuring two people, but was eventually overpowered and killed by the mob.
Police later responded to the scene, recovering Chemonges’ assigned SMG rifle, along with 16 rounds of ammunition.
The officer’s body was transported to Ruhoko Health Centre IV for a postmortem examination.
SP Kasasira condemned the act of mob justice and confirmed that investigations into the incident are ongoing. He called for calm and urged the public to allow due process to unfold.
