Stakeholders from the Busoga and Bukedi sub-regions have voiced overwhelming outrage and sorrow following the violent killing of ASP Emma Bagenda, the Officer in Charge of Ntawo Police Station in Mukono. Senior police officials, religious leaders, political figures, media actors, CSOs, and Electoral Commission representatives jointly mourned the fallen officer, insisting that no security personnel who dedicates their life to protecting Ugandans should meet such a fate.
ASP Bagenda was killed on November 24, 2025, after he and Police Constable Jackson Kiyingi responded to a report of an armed robbery along Nakabago road. According to early accounts, the assailants shot and injured Kiyingi before seizing his rifle. Bagenda was subsequently shot dead, and his body was discovered the following day, prompting widespread condemnation and calls for swift justice.
During a dialogue organized by the Uganda Human Rights Commission (UHRC) at Continental Hotel in Iganga, officials and community leaders expressed deep sympathy and demanded a thorough investigation. Farouk Nyende, head of the UHRC Jinja regional office, strongly denounced the killing, urging police leadership to ensure the attackers are hunted down and prosecuted without delay.
Religious leaders also added their voices, with Bishop Paul Hannington Suubi of East Busoga Diocese describing the act as both criminal and sinful. Drawing comparisons to the Biblical tale of Cain and Abel, he appealed to Ugandans to reject violence and choose righteousness, noting that the murder of a protector is a tragedy that wounds the entire nation.
Bonabye Kamadi from the UHRC headquarters encouraged police officers to uphold professionalism despite persistent provocation, reminding them that the authority they carry is entrusted to them by the state and must be exercised responsibly. His appeal came amid rising hostility towards police officers, a trend that has resulted in several law enforcement deaths across the country in recent months.
The growing tension between civilians and the police remains a concerning pattern, especially when compared to the public’s more cautious approach toward the military. Stakeholders emphasized that such animosity threatens Uganda’s stability and undermines efforts to build safer communities.
Nyende explained that the dialogue was part of a nationwide series aimed at promoting peaceful, inclusive, and rights-centered electoral environments. He stressed the importance of strengthening cooperation among institutions and local actors to reduce violence and foster better understanding between the public and security agencies.
Ugandan law firmly protects officers carrying out their duties, with penalties for obstructing or harming police personnel clearly outlined in the Police Act and the 1995 Constitution. Anyone who resists or attacks a police officer risks imprisonment, heavy fines, or both, and the killing of an officer on duty attracts the most severe legal consequences.
