(Karuma) – On August 26, 2024, a dramatic incident unfolded in Kiryandongo when a Police officer from the Counter Terrorism Unit, stationed at the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Goli One Stop Border Post in Nebbi District, shot a traffic officer at a checkpoint in Karuma town council.
The officer, identified as Police Constable (PC) Isaac Orikiriza, had been escorting cargo trucks to Kampala and later hitchhiked on a convoy of four numberless cars heading towards West Nile. When the convoy reached the Kiryandongo checkpoint, the lead vehicle ignored a signal from the traffic officer, prompting Kiryandongo District OC Traffic Joshua Rugwiza to alert personnel at the Karuma checkpoint to stop the vehicles.
The first vehicle in the convoy was intercepted and taken to Karuma Police Station. When the officer arrived with the remaining three vehicles, he questioned why the initial vehicle had been stopped. According to a source who wished to remain anonymous, the situation escalated when the constable returned to his vehicle, retrieved his gun, and fired a shot at the foot of the traffic officer. The shot caused fragments from the ground to injure the officer’s eyes, leading to widespread panic.
PC Orikiriza, fearing for his life, surrendered the car keys to the constable. The officer then went to the police station to reclaim the vehicle. Meanwhile, the incident was reported to his superiors, and soldiers stationed at a nearby military checkpoint were informed. They responded by blocking the road with tire cutters and prepared to confront the constable.
When the convoy reached the military checkpoint, the vehicles were held at gunpoint. The constable exited his vehicle without his weapon, and all involved were arrested and handed over to the police. According to the source, the soldiers were prepared to use lethal force if the constable had exited the vehicle armed.
The errant officer now faces charges of attempted murder and was transported to Kiryandongo Central Police Station along with the four drivers from the convoy.
