Police in Buwenge, Jinja District, have come under renewed scrutiny after officers shot and killed a suspect identified as Tibenkana on Thursday.
Authorities claim he was attempting to escape custody, but the incident has sparked widespread outrage and comparisons to a similar 2024 case in which two Buwenge officers were arrested following the suspicious death of a detainee.
Witnesses described a tense, chaotic scene shortly after the shooting, with armed officers patrolling a barricaded street.
Images circulating on social media show a heavy security presence, fuelling speculation that the unrest may be tied to deeper political undercurrents in the area.
“This cannot continue to happen,” said local human rights advocate Sarah Nantume.
“Every time someone dies in police custody, we’re given the same excuse: they were trying to escape. But where is the accountability? Where is the evidence?”
While police have yet to issue a detailed statement, an initial report alleges Tibenkana was “noncompliant and attempted to flee.”
Critics argue such explanations have become standard in fatal police encounters across Uganda, often without independent verification.
A 2021 study published in the Journal of African Law found that extrajudicial killings during alleged escape attempts are rarely investigated thoroughly in sub-Saharan Africa, with most cases lacking transparency and external oversight.
Adding to the tension, opposition leader Robert Kyagulanyi, popularly known as Bobi Wine, weighed in hours after the incident.
In a post on social media, he suggested the killing was part of a broader pattern of state-sanctioned violence, calling for nationwide police reforms.
“The people of Buwenge deserve answers, not more bullets,” wrote Bobi Wine, who survived a police shooting in 2024.
“We must not normalize this culture of impunity.”
Public reaction online has been swift, with many Ugandans questioning the official narrative.
“This is not the first time,” read one widely shared comment.
“Every year, same story, different name.”
Rights groups are now demanding an independent inquiry into Tibenkana’s death and stronger oversight of police operations.
In Buwenge, residents say such promises have been made before—but justice remains elusive.