Armed thugs kill two police officers in Kawempe, take off with guns
Police have started investigations into circumstances under which unknown assailants trailed two police officers , shot them dead and took off with their guns.
According to police spokesperson Emilian Kayima, the incident happened a few minutes after 8.00 pm in Kawempe, a Kampala suburb on Thursday evening.
" They shot dead two of our police officers from Kawempe division killing them instantly and their guns were taken,"Kayima said.
The dead officers were on foot patrol in the area at the time of the attack.
He named the fallen police officers as Vincent Habiyaremye and Otim Ambrose, all at the rank of constable.
"The police has embarked on hunting for these criminals to bring them to book."
This comes at a time when incidents of attacks on police officers have increased of recent.
The number of attacks on police officers and guns taken have been on the rise of late.
In September, a police constable, Daniel Mayende was attacked by thugs at a check point in Busia town near the Uganda- Kenya border before stabbing him and the gun taken.
Thugs moving on motorcycles attacked Hussein Mubiru and Moses Karungi all Special Police Constables (SPC) attached to Mutundwe police station before killing them and took off with their guns.
In December, a police guard to Mbarara Judge Duncan Gwaswaga was killed and his gun taken by assailants who pretended as if they wanted assistance from him to repair their broken motorcycle.
Last year, the Inspector General of Police, Gen.Kayihura Kayihura warned police officers that they are being targeted by thugs in order to kill them and grab their guns but said this should not be allowed to thrive because it is a security risk.
“These same guns stolen from our officers will be used against our people. I have given orders to officers in charge of police stations to organise transport to and from work so they do not move alone to avoid being targeted.”
He warned that any police officer found walking alone with a gun should be arrested.
