Police Officer Shoots Dead Unarmed Child In Bukedea District In Eastern Uganda

Posted by: Eninu William in Uganda news February 26, 2021

Authorities in Bukedea District in Eastern Uganda have detained a police officer after he shot dead a 17-year-old unarmed child.

Police detained Constable Charles Okurut on Thursday morning after he shot and killed Patrick Otimong, a resident of Ajesa village, Akero parish in Bukedea Sub County.

Otimong has been a senior two student at Sironko Parents Secondary School.

Constable Charles Okurut shot the unarmed child in the back as he fled from the armed cop.

The shooting happened after police deployed to disperse revelers who had gathered at Kanyipa village in Kolir Sub County where relatives were holding the last funeral rites of the late Micheal Ejiet.

Police also arrested the Kanyipa LC1 chairman, Mr. Simon Okorojong to help in police investigations.

Bukedea sub-county chairperson, Mr. Johnson Emong Otinga said the shooting has left locals shocked.

“It is sad that the police officer acted irrational and shot our son who was unarmed and was already fleeing from him,” Mr. Otinga said.

What police authorities say.

Mr. David Ongom, the East Kyoga Regional Police Spokesman said they had deployed the shooter and other officers to enforce a curfew on Wednesday night.

Mr. Ongom said the actions of the village chairperson provoked the officer. He accused the chairperson of encouraging revelers to drink and dance overnight in disregard of the presidential guidelines to prevent the spread of Covid-19 which has so far infected 40,300 Ugandans with 334 confirmed deaths.

Although bars and discotheques have not yet been cleared to operate, several are functional across the Teso sub-region. Loud music booms throughout the night in most areas.

Meanwhile, Otinga questioned the method used by police to disperse crowds.

This is the second teenager Bukedea police has shot dead in less than two months. Last month, constable Ojekede attached to Kachumbala police post shot a 19-year-old senior six student. This student was revising his books at Kongunga Secondary School.

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Meanwhile, Otimong’s death happened just hours after Police and UPDF shot dead a 16-year-old boy about 90kms away. This was during a police and UPDF operation in Kapchorwa District to arrest his father accused of deserting the army.

Authorities said the boy, only identified as Timothy was shot dead in a fire exchange between his armed father, only identified as Kapchekweko, UPDF, and the police at Kapcheli village, Kapchemwor Parish, Tuban Sub County.

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