By KT Reporter
The suspicious killing of Simon Waibu in Kasokoso, Kira Municipality, has led to the arrest of two police Constables, Michael Okwalinga and Jackson Okello. Waibu was shot 21 times by Constable Okwalinga on allegations of attempting to strangle his former lover, Zaina Nakazibwe, inside Delax Bar.
Patrick Onyango, the Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson, confirmed that Constables Okwalinga and Okello are currently detained at Kira Road Police Station. According to a report from Kasokoso Police Post, information was received that a man was strangling his wife at Delax Bar in Kasokoso Zone, prompting Constables Okwalinga and Okello to intervene.
The report states: “On reaching the scene, one Waibu Simon (deceased) was found strangling a woman known by the names of Nakazibwe Zaina aged about 20 years, Munyankole by tribe, who works as a barmaid. When they tried to arrest him, he first resisted.
But Okwalinga shot a bullet in the air that prompted him to agree to go with the police officers.” The report further indicates that while being escorted, the deceased ran away from the officers, prompting PC Okwalinga to shoot at him multiple times, leading to his death. However, detectives and scene-of-crime officers, relying on witness accounts, have cast doubt on the Kasokoso Police Post report.
Investigators revealed that reports from locals suggest PC Okwalinga was the reason Waibu and Nakazibwe separated, and that he allegedly acted out of anger after finding Waibu with Nakazibwe in a compromised situation inside the bar. Detectives noted that it was highly unlikely for an armed officer to shoot an unarmed man fleeing for safety 21 times, as Okwalinga did.
Police said that Okello was also detained because he was with Okwalinga and appears to have tried to conceal the true motive behind the shooting. “Okwalinga discharged 21 rounds of ammunition, and only 09 remained in the magazine. Okwalinga and Okello are currently detained at Kira Division Police as investigations into the murder proceed,” Onyango said.
According to the officers’ earlier narrative, Waibu went to Delax Bar at around 9 p.m., and at about midnight, grabbed his ex-girlfriend Nakazibwe Zaina and tried to strangle her. However, locals who spoke to detectives have dismissed this version of events. Onyango said residents of Kasokoso, mobilized by area defence personnel and politicians, attempted to demonstrate, claiming police had not helped them recover the body from the mortuary as earlier agreed when it was taken from the scene.
He said the issue has since been resolved. “To establish the truth, a team led by the DPC Kira Division, CID Commander, and investigating officers has also responded to the information, meeting area leaders and relatives of the deceased,” Onyango added. “In the meeting, it was agreed that the police provided fuel, a coffin, and food to assist in the burial. The situation is normal, and the relatives have been escorted by police to assist them in getting the body from Mulago,” he said.
Five months ago, Constable Evarest Natujuna was killed by Constable Arthur Muhangi at Naguru Police Headquarters, in an incident also linked to infidelity and money. Police officers have, in recent months, been implicated in killings of colleagues or civilians over love affairs.
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