Kole: Husband who assaulted wife dies on Women’s Day

A 42-year-old Kole district man who had been arrested on an assault charge collapsed at Kole Central Police Station (CPS) before breathing his last on Sunday: International Women’sDay.

The suspect – now deceased, Ogwang Tonny, was a resident of Lwala trading centre in Ayer sub-county, Kole district.

According to SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, the North Kyoga Regional Police PRO, the death occurred on March 8, 2026, at around 9:15 am.

Ogwang was arrested and brought to Kole CPS on March 5, 2026, following a complaint of assault lodged by his wife. However, upon his arrival at the station, his behavior became unusual, SP Okema stated.

He reportedly began talking excessively and repeatedly banging on the door of the police cell where he was held.

On the morning of March 8, 2026, at around 9:00 am, SP Okema explained that the cell guard on duty conducted a routine check and found Tonny weak and unconscious.

The matter was immediately reported to the Officer in Charge (OC) of the station, who assessed the situation and directed that the suspect be rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital for urgent medical attention.

He was transported in a police vehicle was pronounced dead upon arrival at the hospital’s emergency ward.

SP Okema stated that preliminary findings indicate the deceased had allegedly been on a hunger strike since the day before his collapse. The assault case was being handled by the Child and Family Protection Unit (CFPU).

Furthermore, observations prior to his death suggested that the deceased had been displaying behavior consistent with someone experiencing mental health challenges.

A Death Enquiry File has been opened as police investigate the circumstances surrounding the sudden death.

The body of the deceased has been conveyed to the Lira Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary, where a postmortem examination will be conducted to establish the exact cause of death.

The police have informed the relatives of the deceased and are appealing for calm while the investigation is ongoing. “We call for calmness from the relatives as efforts to establish the cause of death have begun,” SP Okema confirmed.

The investigation is being led by PC Isabirye Stuart, the police officer attached to Kole CPS who registered the initial incident.