Burere police boss shoots dead ‘cheering’ onlooker at crime scene

Cpl Gracious Taremwa, the officer in charge of Burere police station is on the run after shooting dead an onlooker at a crime scene on Wednesday. 

According to Greater Bushenyi Regional police spokesperson, Martial Tumusiime, Taremwa shot dead Osbert Bitahwa, a resident of Rwajere Central Cell in Burere sub-county. Bitahwa was hit by a ‘stray’ bullet when Taremwa and police constable, Derick Mwendya went to arrest Mayas Katurebe for allegedly obtaining money by false pretense.

He explains that two officers were in the company of the LC I chairman Moses Kiwanuka who knocked on the suspect’s door which he refused to open. 

Tumusiime narrates that the suspect came out with a blanket, which he used to cover Taremwa, and wrestled him down before he took off – prompting Mwendya to run after him. He explains that the suspect managed to wrestle down Mwendya prompting Taremwa to come to his rescue. He says that Taremwa used his gun butt to demobilize the suspect before discharging a bullet. 

After discharging the first bullet, Taremwa released another bullet that hit the deceased who was reportedly cheering on the suspects together with other lookers. He says that the suspect managed to get away with police handcuffs while Taremwa also ran away after the incident.

According to preliminary investigations, the deceased’s body was found with a bullet wound on the head, and the killer weapon, UG Pol  565832573-41982 was found with 28 rounds of ammunition instead of the 30 that were recorded in the book. Tumusiime says the gun and one cartridge were recovered at the scene. The deceased’s body was delivered to Nsiika health centre IV for postmortem. 

According to Kiwanuka, the shooting was accidental noting that they are ready to assist the deceased’s family to get justice.