Police have arrested four suspects in connection with the murder by shooting of the Bukwo district Chief Administrative Officer (CAO), Charles Robert Ogwang.
The shooting occurred on July 8, 2022, at around 11:30pm at Kiryowa village, along Bombo Road.
According to Police Spokesperson, CP Fred Enanga, preliminary facts gathered indicate that the victim travelled from Bukwo to Mbale with his driver, Eric Chemusto, aged 23, in motor vehicle registration number UG0865Z.
Enanga says while in Mbale, the victim had plans of travelling to Kampala via Lira. He, however, changed his mind and drove to Kampala.
He says they reached Mukono after 10am and proceeded to Wandegeya, Ntinda, Konge, Kisaasi, among other places.
At around 8pm, he dropped his driver at Liberty Guest House in Kireka to enable him travel by bus to Bukwo district while he drives himself to Lira.
The victim drove and reached Bwaise at around 9:23pm, then Kawempe up to Kagoma where he delayed a bit. At around 11:12pm, he drove past the CCTV camera site at Kiryagonja ward, while heading towards Bombo.
Enanga says that it was at Kiryowa cell, Kiryamuli ward, Gombe division, that he was stopped by an armed group of strangers and he parked aside.
He says the attackers inquired whether he was Ogwang, “and it is at this stage that he sensed danger and he told them that he was his driver. They removed his wallet and phone, which they checked. After establishing his true identify, the assailants fired several bullets at him from the passenger side”.
Enanga said this was an account of the victim to the medical staff at Bombo Military Hospital as they tried to give him first aid. However, he said it’s unfortunate that the victim succumbed to the injuries.
He also adds that they got on a very clear account from two other victims who were driving a tri-cycle registration number UFF849H and were also rushed to the hospital after their tri-cycle overturned and injured them.
“They clearly narrated how they fled to a nearby bush when the gunshots began, and how the attack was being recorded on a smartphone by one of the assailants for their proof. The attackers also set the motor vehicle on fire, with the victim inside before escaping from the scene.”
“We strongly believe that the victim was targeted and the killing was not random but premeditated, pre-planned and targeted. The motive of the fatal shooting has not yet been determined although we rule out robbery or domestic terrorism.”
He revealed that four suspects have been arrested including the driver and another suspect who was arrested while hiding in the bush near the scene.
A total of 26 cartridges were recovered from the scene, a grey jacket, a gun butt, blood specimen and empty tins of yogurt.
The wreckage of the burnt double cabin pick-up and the motorcycle were also removed from the scene.
