Two police officers from Buwunga Police Station in Bugiri District are at the center of a tragic incident that resulted in the death of a 33-year-old man, Mugoza Aramanzani, on April 3, 2026. The officers, ASP Wagaba Innocent and CPL Okwalinga Stephen, had been dispatched to Nambele Village for an arrest operation involving an assault case. However, what began as a routine arrest escalated into chaos, leading to a fatal shooting.
The police officers arrived at the village early in the morning to arrest Mugoza Nafiru in connection with a reported assault. As they took Nafiru into custody, he began shouting loudly, drawing the attention of his family members and other villagers. His parents, along with other relatives, armed themselves with pangas, spears, and stones, and attempted to rescue Nafiru from the police officers. As the situation grew tense and more people joined the scene, the police officers fired several shots to control the crowd and disperse the growing group.
In a tragic turn of events, one of the bullets fired by the police missed its target and struck an innocent bystander, Mugoza Aramanzani, in the head. Aramanzani, a resident of Nambele Village, was killed instantly by the stray bullet. His death has left the community in shock, as he was not involved in the confrontation with the police but tragically became an unintended victim of the chaotic situation.
The two officers involved in the shooting, ASP Wagaba Innocent, aged 38, and CPL Okwalinga Stephen, aged 59, are both stationed at Buwunga Police Station and are currently under investigation. Following the incident, the police crime scene was visited and documented by D/ASP Nuwamanya Micah, along with a team of homicide officers and other uniformed personnel. Several items were recovered at the scene, including spent cartridges, guns, stones, pangas, and blood samples.
The body of the deceased was transported to Bugiri Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination, and statements have been taken from witnesses, the complainant, and the suspects. Authorities have assured the public that inquiries are still ongoing, as they continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting. This incident has raised serious concerns about the use of force by law enforcement officers and the impact of such actions on innocent lives caught in the crossfire.
