Lira Police officer arrested over murder
By Acipa Doreen
Lira, April 12, 2022: Lira City West Central Police Station are holding in custody one of their own on allegation of committing a crime.
Special Police Constable (SPC) Raymond Esanyu was arrested after a trigger from his arsenal killed a suspect (civilian).
Esanyu, who is attached to the Starch Factory Police Outpost, was arrested for shooting Boniface Awio, 29 while enforcing his arrest.
The incident took place on Saturday, April 9, 2022, at Cuki-Bangi cell, Lango central ward in Lira City West Division.
Jimmy Patrick Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police spokesperson confirmed the matter.
He said that three police officers were on duty, patrolling at around 11:15 pm when they found a group of 15 people smoking opium and others chewing marungi under an unfinished building.
“It’s not within the practice of the Uganda Police Force officer to shoot a suspect,” he said, promising that Police will do thorough investigations into the matter for the law to take its cause.
The PRO added that more investigations are “yet to be done to confirm” if the deceased “truly tried to grab the gun from an officer on duty”.
He urges anyone who could be knowing the truth to come out and say it to the Police.
Okema confirmed that the gun with a registration number UG.POL.38X40910-1691 has been recovered and exhibited.
“The deceased’s body is still at Lira Regional Referral Hospital awaiting postmortem and our condolences to the bereaved family,” he added.
A murder case has been registered at Lira City West Division Central Police Station under CRB 16/09/04/2022 as investigations into the matter continue.
Emma Obong is the brother of the deceased. He has refuted the Police report, saying Esanyu who shot their brother was drunk.
“…he should be followed by law so that justice prevails.”