Following the violent incidents that marred the Bukedea LC V Chairperson by-election held on June 14, 2023, five police officers from Bukedea Central Police Station have appeared before the court, facing charges of murder, aggravated robbery, and aggravated torture.
The accused officers include Deputy Assistant Superintendent of Police (D/ASP) Alex Ehguloiti, Officer in charge of criminal investigations at Bukedea Central Police Station (CPS), Detective Constable Simon Peter Oriokot, and police constables Difas Kamakoin, Onesimus Akankwasa, and Born Naibe.
Their arrest came as a result of a directive issued by President Yoweri Museveni in response to the violence that unfolded during the by-election. In a letter dated June 26, 2023, Museveni expressed his shock over the incidents, specifically mentioning the raid on the residence of David Stephen Omagor, one of the aspirants, by government officials and security officers. The raid resulted in the loss of Shs163 million, valuable items, and the confiscation of nomination papers.
Museveni said that these actions were not only electoral offenses but also criminal in nature, drawing parallels to the events of 1980 that caused turmoil in the country.
During their appearance before Bukedea Grade One Magistrate Juliana Kimono on Wednesday, the prosecution presented evidence revealing that the accused officers, along with others who remain at large, committed robberies on the nights of June 4 and 5, 2023, using an SMG rifle.
They allegedly stole Shs163 million, a wristwatch (Audemars Piguet Royal Oak) valued at US$23,000 (about Shs84 million), and nomination documents from David Stephen Omagor.
The group was also charged with aggravated robbery for robbing Beatrice Anyait, a resident of Emokor Cell in Bukedea Town Council, of Shs15 million and a Techno Camon 19 PRO phone on the same night.
Additionally, the prosecution presented four separate counts of murder and aggravated torture against D/ASP Alex Ehguloiti in relation to incidents that occurred in 2022.
It was alleged that murder suspects from Kachumbala Sub County were subjected to torture and killed inside the cells at Bukedea CPS. The court learned that Ehguloiti, in an attempt to obtain information or confessions from the suspects, unlawfully caused the deaths of Michael Ojakol and Paul Anguria. Ojakol was found hanging inside the cells at Bukedea CPS, while Anguria died during a search for evidence regarding the death of Francis Opolot, who was killed on Christmas Day, 2021.
In connection with the same case, Moses Olemukan, the former Bukedea LCV Chairperson, was also arrested and charged with murder. The accused police officers have been remanded to Soroti Prison until their cases are mentioned on July 26, 2023.