Nebbi police shooting: How love circle turned fatal

police officer attached to Nebbi Central Police Station on Saturday evening shot dead a colleague and injured four others in an attempt to quell an angry mob in Nebbi Municipality, Nebbi District.

The victim, PC Joseph Olupot, attached to the same station, died shortly on arrival at Nebbi General Hospital, while the injured civilians include Charles Okecha, 44, Irene Pimar, 32, Joy Epifania, and Charles Oroch, 52.

Police Spokesperson for West Nile Region, SSP Josephine Angucia, identified the suspect as PC Sam Okello, force number 78710, who had gone to arrest a suspect identified as Robert Ocircan from Kasuku Cell, Nyacara Ward, Abindu Division, Nebbi District.

According to police, the suspect opened fire at a group of people who were pelting stones at them, protesting the arrest of the suspect, accused of assaulting his girlfriend.

SSP Angucia explained that the two police officers booked out to arrest Ocircan, whose girlfriend, Praise Atuhaire, 25, a businesswoman and resident of Mutungo Zone 3, Nakawa Division, had travelled to visit his boyfriend.

The two had reportedly spent the night together, before a misunderstanding ensued, prompting her to seek help from the police at Nebbi CPS.

"The officers later booked out for arrest at 6:10 pm, and upon arresting him, the community members started throwing stones at the officers.’’

Adding that: ‘’PC Okello responded by shooting and in the process, he shot at his colleague PC Olupot Joseph and four other civilians.’’

She said the victims were rushed to Nebbi General Hospital for medical attention, but PC Olupot Joseph was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

SSP Angucia said Police opened a General Enquiry, adding that statements were recorded from witnesses, the gun in question was recovered and exhibited.

The suspect is detained at Nebbi CPS pending investigations.

"The scene was visited and examined to recover more evidence; the postmortem report is being retrieved from the hospital. Exhibits are being submitted for forensic examination," SSP Angucia explained.

What happened?

Mr Charles Orochi, one of the victims, said he was shot on his thigh and was quelling the crowds from attacking the officers.’’

“I thank God that children and other community members didn’t die because people heard gunshots and were running towards the direction of the bullets,” Orochi said.

Ms Moureen Afoyorwoth, an eyewitness and brother to Robert Ocirchan, told this publication that the lovebirds were planning on a marriage, a reason why Ms Atuhaire travelled from Kampala District.

She narrated that tension between the two was triggered after Ms Atuhaire learnt that her boyfriend wanted to rent a grass-thatched house to accommodate them.

“On Saturday morning, the disagreement started when Ocirchan welcomed her girlfriend, whom he brought home from Kampala, to get accommodated in the grass-thatched house.’’ She said.

But upon her refusing to enter the house, the woman communicated to her boyfriend, who’s alleged to be one of the police officers, who later instructed the woman to leave and go to the police, Afoyochan added.

Mr Patrick Ogenrwoth, uncle to Robert Ocirchan, said: “The two started their love affair in Kampala, and we all don’t know; why should their love affair involve police, later killing and injuring innocent civilians?”

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