By Flavia Ajok
Police in Kikuube have shot dead a suspected cattle thief who has been on the police wanted list for a long time. The suspect, Andrew Ouma, aged 34 and a resident of Ibambiro village, Katanga parish in Bugambe sub-county, was reportedly shot dead on Sunday morning around 11 am.
According to reports, police received intelligence that the deceased, who had been on the police’s wanted list for alleged cattle theft for a long time was hiding in one of the houses belonging to an accomplice, only identified as Banaba, in the neighboring village of Kaziniro.
Police, led by Alex Otim, the officer in charge of Bugambe police station mobilized and raided Banaba’s home, where they arrested him and then located Ouma hiding inside. Ouma allegedly attempted to hack police officers with a panga as they tried to arrest him.
Despite warnings to drop the weapon, Ouma charged at the officers, who then fired several bullets in the air to scare him. However, he continued to advance toward the officers, and they eventually shot him in the chest, killing him instantly. During the scuffle, his accomplice, who had been arrested and handcuffed, escaped.
Julius Hakiza, the Albertine region police spokesperson, explained that the deceased and many others who are still at large have been terrorizing area residents, especially cattle farmers, by stealing their animals. He said that the suspect had been on the police’s wanted list for many years.
John Bagonza, a resident of Bugambe sub-county, urged the police to intensify patrols to ensure that the remaining suspects are apprehended or eliminated from the area. Amlan Tumusiime, the Kikuube Resident District Commissioner, stated that they have already petitioned the Inspector General of Police to deploy the Anti-Stock Theft Unit officers in the area to help fight the crime.
