Two arrested over attacking Terego police officer

Two suspects have been arrested over allegedly attacking and injuring a police officer and a civilian in refugee settlement in Uriama in Terego district, northern Uganda.

The suspects, currently detained at Terego central police station, have been identified only as Muse and Ayikobua, both male adults. The other suspects involved in the incident are still on the run. According to police, the incident occurred on Sunday at around 1:30 p.m. when a police officer whose identity is being withheld to avoid jeopardizing investigations accompanied one Peter Gala to recover a generator worth Shs 3.4 million that had been reportedly stolen from his shop on June 13, 2025.

Collins Asea, police spokesperson for the North and West Nile regions, confirmed the incident and said the officer and Gala traced the generator to Ofua 1. However, upon arrival, they were allegedly ambushed by a group of suspected thugs.

“The assailants, who targeted the police officer, began beating and stabbing him with a panga knife, injuring him on the spot. Peter Gala managed to escape unhurt. During the attack, the officer was forced to retreat, abandoning his motorcycle, which the thugs later vandalized,” Asea disclosed.

He added that a civilian identified as Robert Abeku, who attempted to assist the officer, was also severely assaulted. While some suspects fled the scene, two were subdued and captured by local vigilantes who responded swiftly and handed them over to the police.

The injured police officer is currently receiving treatment at Uriama health centre III. In addition to the assault, the suspects reportedly stole the officer’s wallet containing Shs 680,000.

Police later recovered the officer’s motorcycle, albeit with several parts vandalized, along with his handcuffs, following an intervention by the officer-in-charge of Ofua and local leaders.In the wake of the attack, police have launched a manhunt for the remaining suspects and issued a warning to the public not to interfere with or confront officers in the line of duty.