Gunmen rob police officer of AK-47 at Lwamata police station

Gunmen rob police officer of AK-47 at Lwamata police station

Police in Kiboga District have launched investigations after unknown assailants allegedly attacked a police officer at Lwamata Police Station and made off with an AK-47 rifle loaded with 20 rounds of ammunition.

The incident occurred at around 2:00 a.m. on Sunday at the station’s counter in Kitagenda Cell, Kabindo Ward, Lwamata Town Council.

According to a police incident report, the victim, Police Constable Gabriel Oyet, 28, was on duty when he was confronted by three men reportedly armed with a panga.

Police say the attackers overpowered the officer during a struggle before robbing him of his AK-47 rifle, registration number UG POL56-5831059 35926, together with 20 rounds of ammunition.

During the altercation, one of the suspects allegedly bit the officer’s fingers, forcing him to surrender the firearm.

The robbery was reported to the Officer in Charge of Lwamata Police Station, ASP Shaphone Bainomugisha, at 2:18 a.m., prompting the opening of an aggravated robbery case under Lwamata CRB 065/2026.

Investigators Recover Exhibits

A joint team comprising detectives, Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO), the Canine Unit, Crime Intelligence officers, and General Duties personnel visited the scene to begin investigations.

Police recovered several exhibits believed to have been used or discarded by the suspects, including a panga, a piece of a cut cycling rifle sling, and two hoods. one green and one red.

However, efforts by the canine unit to track the suspects were unsuccessful after investigators found that the crime scene had already been tampered with by first responders.

Police also recorded statements from witnesses, including Charles Amanyire, a private security guard employed by Greensom Security Company Limited, who was guarding a nearby petrol station located about 15 metres from the police station.

Questions Raised Over Officer’s Account

Preliminary investigations have raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the robbery.

According to the station’s weekly duty roster, four officers had been assigned duty that night: Sgt. Paulina Nakayima, PC Gabriel Oyet, PC Peter Olokojo, and PC Lillian Nasio.

Investigators established that PC Oyet was the only officer found alert on duty at the time of the incident, while the other deployed officers have since been charged with neglect of duty and placed in custody pending further investigations.

Police also observed inconsistencies that investigators say require further scrutiny.

The victim was found with wet murram soil around both eyes, yet investigators reported that similar soil was not present at the reported crime scene, raising suspicion that the officer may have been attacked elsewhere before arriving at the station.

Although the officer sustained bite injuries, investigators said no blood stains were found at the scene, further complicating efforts to reconstruct the events.

Manhunt Underway

No arrests have been made and the stolen rifle has not yet been recovered.

Police said investigations are ongoing to establish the circumstances under which the firearm was stolen and to identify and apprehend those responsible.

The theft of a police firearm is treated as a serious security incident, with authorities expected to intensify efforts to recover the weapon and determine whether there was any internal negligence or collusion.