Kaberamaido police are investigating circumstances under which a suspect at Abalang police post reportedly shot and killed himself.

The deceased, Michael Enyanu, was a resident of Abiligalin village in Anyara sub-county in Kaberamaido district.

Enyanu was picked up on Sunday for alleged theft of a bicycle. Michael Odongo, the East Kyoga regional police spokesperson, said that on Monday the handcuffed suspect picked a gun belonging to a police officer attached to Abalang police and shot himself.

“There is no clear information yet and I am rushing to the ground in Kaberamaido now to establish the facts. However, scanty information is that the suspect was earlier arrested for having stolen a bicycle in his locality and was detained at the newly established Abalang police post and it happens that one of the police officers sleeps in the same unipot only partitioned with a papyrus mat.”  Odongo said.

“The suspect accessed the gun and shot himself in the head when the police officer had moved out of the house.”

Jimmy Segawa Ebil, the Kaberamaido resident district commissioner, said they have detained all three police officers attached to Abalang police post, including OC Peter Ogwal at Kaberamaido Central police station.

“We have arrested these officers to help us with investigations into this shocking incident because we are all wondering how a handcuffed suspect can shoot himself,” Ebil said.

David Emodo, the former district chairperson and resident of Anyara sub-county, says prior to his arrest, the suspect had settled his problem with the complainants on Sunday. The community was surprised to see police officers arresting him on Monday, Emodo said.