Police instructor’s death under probe in Masindi

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Police in the Masindi district have begun investigating a report of a police officer who allegedly shot himself.

The incident allegedly happened on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at around 3:30 PM at Kabalye Police Training School in Kabalye Cell, Karujubu Division, Masindi Municipality.

The deceased has been identified as No. 70992 PC James Tembo, 29, born in Bundibugyo district.

Julius Allan Hakiza, the Albertine Regional Police Spokesperson, told New Vision Online that the deceased was attached to Kabalye Police Training School as an instructor.

‘’Tembo allegedly shot himself dead after PC Onek Francis told him to handle for him an AK-47 gun as he went to meet the school administrator, but shortly he heard a gunshot,’’ Hakiza explained.

The regional police mouthpiece added that a case of suicide by shooting was reported, a team of Police officers from Masindi Central Police visited the scene, and statements from relevant witnesses were recorded.

Hakiza said that an AK-47 gun with 28 live ammunition was recovered and a postmortem was conducted by a police surgeon. Meanwhile, PC Onek Francis has been arrested to aid in the investigation.

The incident happened days after a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier, Corporal Aggrey Byamugisha, allegedly shot dead a 32-year-old hawker identified only as Mugisha, 32.

The tragic incident occurred on April 19, 2025, at around 2:00 AM in Kijura North Cell, Central Division of Masindi Municipality.

The suspect remains detained at Masindi Central Police Station.