Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-03-11 14:23:09
The Kaabong District National Unity Platform (NUP) chairman, Ambrose Lochoto, tragically lost his life at the age of 30 after being shot dead by security forces in Kakamar sub-county, Kaabong Town Council. The incident occurred late on a Sunday night while security forces were tracking suspected cattle rustlers in the area. However, the Karamoja Region Police Spokesperson, Mr. Michael Longole, stated that Lochoto was mistakenly shot by joint security forces who were responding to gunshots from the suspected cattle rustlers in Kakamar sub-county.
Mr. Longole clarified that the security forces were responding to gunshots from the raiders and had set up ambushes in known crossing areas. Unfortunately, Lochoto unknowingly walked into the ambush and was shot. Despite social media reports identifying him as a leader of an Opposition party, Mr. Longole emphasized that the shooting was not politically motivated and was a result of mistaken identity in the chaotic situation of an ambush.
Ambrose Lochoto was a carpenter in Kaabong Town Council and had unsuccessfully contested for the Kaabong Town Council LC3 seat on the NUP ticket in 2021. Mr. Longole mentioned that Lochoto was on foot during the incident and questioned why he had chosen to walk along a deserted path in the night, especially after hearing gunshots in the area.
Following his defeat in the election, Lochoto had returned to his masonry work and was an avid fan of the English Premier League team Arsenal. He was known to cheer for his team during his leisure time on the weekends. Local leaders disputed the official police narrative that Lochoto was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
One district councilor, Mr. Gabriel Loiki Paak, recounted Lochoto’s last moments before his tragic death. Lochoto had watched an Arsenal match late into the night and intervened in a fight between two women at a bus terminal. When police officers arrived at the scene, the women fled, and Lochoto took cover under a bus. Unfortunately, he was pulled out, taken to the banks of River Kaabong, and shot dead.
The police dismissed claims that Lochoto’s death was a deliberate act and insisted it was a case of mistaken identity. Lochoto’s body was found with several bullet wounds and numerous cartridges at the scene. The family was informed, and an autopsy was conducted at Kaabong Hospital before the body was released.
NUP leader Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) condemned the killing on Facebook, emphasizing the challenges faced by NUP supporters across the country. He demanded justice for Lochoto and criticized the actions of security officials in Northern Uganda. The NUP Secretary General, Mr. David Lewis Rubongoya, also expressed sadness for the loss of a dedicated comrade who had always supported the People Power movement. The tragic death of Ambrose Lochoto has sparked outrage and calls for justice within the community.
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