Summary:

• Police in Kabale District have arrested two officers, Sgt. John Tumwesigye and PC James Owomuhangi, for allegedly shooting and killing 35-year-old Christmas Twinomujuni at Claire’s Bar in Maziba Sub County. The incident occurred during an attempt to disperse a group accused of drinking and smoking marijuana.

KABALE, (Examiner) – Police in Kabale District have detained the Officer in Charge of Nyanja Police Post and another officer following the alleged shooting death of a 35-year-old man in Maziba Sub County. The suspects, Sgt. John Tumwesigye, 59, and PC James Owomuhangi, are currently being held at Kabale Central Police Station. The deceased has been identified as Christmas Twinomujuni, a farmer from Rujogoma Cell, Burambira Parish in Kaharo Sub County.

Kigezi region police spokesperson ASP Elly Maate confirmed the arrests and provided further details. According to Maate, the incident occurred last night at Claire’s Bar in Nyanja Trading Center, where Twinomujuni was reportedly shot. His sister, Annah Twebaze, received the distressing news around 11:00 PM and found him lying injured at the scene. Despite rushing him to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital, Twinomujuni succumbed to his injuries before receiving medical attention.

Twebaze has demanded that those responsible cover the burial costs and urged government intervention. She highlighted the devastating impact on Twinomujuni’s family, including his widow and two children.

The incident has drawn sharp criticism, with former Kaharo Sub County LC3 Chairman, Dastan Muhereza, condemning the officers’ actions and calling for justice. Muhereza criticized the unprofessional conduct of the police involved in the shooting.

Maate elaborated on the circumstances leading to the fatal incident, stating that Twinomujuni, along with several others, was found drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana at Nyanja Trading Center around 12:30 AM. The Officer in Charge attempted to disperse the group and arrest individuals for smoking marijuana. When they resisted, a confrontation ensued, leading to the shooting of Twinomujuni in the leg, which resulted in his death due to excessive bleeding.

A case file (CRB 408/2024) has been opened, and a thorough investigation is underway. A team of officers, including OC Station ASP Akanyijuka Andrew, OC CID D/SP Mukama Hakim, Regional SOCO AIP Mugabe, and other detectives, have examined the crime scene and collected relevant evidence, including witness statements and a postmortem report.

Additionally, three individuals have been arrested in connection with the attempt to disarm the officer, as investigations continue to uncover the full details of the incident.

With extracts from The Source Reports