A Police officer in Kazo County in Kiruhura district is being held for shooting and killing two civilians who he accused of causing insecurity around a police station.
The officer identified as Sam Bebirweki opened fire on a group of bodaboda cyclists who had stormed Kanoni Police station purportedly looking for a suspect who had stolen a motorcycle.
The killed were identified as Richard Kankiriho 35, from Nyakatokye Ibanda district and one only identified as Edward from Kigoto Kitagwenda Kamwegye district.
This came after a thief was caught with Bajaj motorcycle number UEF 246Q, which he allegedly stole from one of the cyclists in Kanoni town.
The suspect was luckily rescued by police officers in time, and taken to Kanoni police post.
On Monday, the cyclist organized and raided the post and in trying to force their way into the cells, two of them were gunned down.
A massive riot ensued as the bodaboda chairman in the township, Ronald Mugabe organized fellow riders who blocked the main Kazo –Ibanda road.
They also descended on two houses in the town and set them ablaze. The houses reportedly belonged to the shooter Sam Bebirweki, and a crime preventer only identified as Idi Drogba.
The area District Police Commander Benson Byaruhanga ordered for the arrest of the OC station Tiberindwa and SPC Sam Bebirweki.
The DPC said the officers would be charged for their actions in which unarmed citizens lost their lives.
On the other hand, he cautioned the public against using mob justice, urging them to work together with police.
The development comes only days after another six people in Kasese and Kabarole districts in the same region were shot and killed by police and army officers, after they allegedly tried to grab their guns.