Two policemen on official patrol were shot dead on Saturday night in Ihandiro sub-county in Kasese district when two UPDF soldiers mistook them for armed thugs.
The UPDF 2nd Division Intelligence Officer, Rwemijuma Ninsiima, confirmed the incident to the Uganda Today. He said investigations into the incident had already started. He said they want to establish the circumstances under which the policemen were shot dead.
“It’s true, two UPDF soldiers who were officially deployed at a Bridge under construction across River Mpondwe in Kihoko parish of Ihandiro sub-county mistook the policemen for armed thieves and shot them dead”, Ninsiima said.
The two UPDF suspects have been arrested and investigations started, Ninsiima said. Ninsiima added, “We are really very sorry about the incident and it was unfortunate because both the two parties were on official deployment”.
He explained that the two UPDF soldiers he declined to name were officially deployed to guard the materials being used to construct the Bridge and when they saw armed people walking in the place, they mistook them for armed thieves considering the numerous armed thuggery incidents that had previously been taking place in Bwera region of the district.
The sub-county Councilor, Amon Masereka, who represents Kihoko parish where the Bridge is being constructed and police in Bwera, identified the dead policemen as Gideon Bwambale and Kambasu Bikyira both original residents of Ihandiro sub-county.
Masereka said that the Bridge is being constructed by the UPDF under their Tarehe Sita programme, to fulfill a pledge the UPDF made during the most recent celebrations marking Tarehe Sita day.
