Security forces shoot dead armed suspected rebel in Koboko
"The prime suspect was intercepted along the Koboko–Yumbe road and was put out of action after a serious exchange of gunfire. His gun was recovered by the officers and exhibited," Angucia said.
Koboko: A joint security operation has shot dead a suspected South Sudanese rebel after he allegedly murdered a 68-year-old refugee in Koboko District, West Nile, in a dispute over land payments.
The incident began on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at around 1:00 p.m. in Wajju 01 Cluster, Ajipara Parish, Lobule Sub-county, where the suspect allegedly shot and killed Ititu Mariam, a South Sudanese refugee and peasant farmer.
Police identified the deceased suspect as Asio Moses, 38, a resident of Pijoke Village in Koboko District who is believed to have been a member of the SPLA-IO rebel group operating in South Sudan. He was killed during a gun battle with security forces later the same day along the Koboko–Yumbe Road.
According to SSP Josephine Angucia, the West Nile Regional Police Spokesperson, the suspect had returned from South Sudan and demanded Shs10,000 from each of his father’s tenants for occupying family land.
“Some of them paid, but one Etitu Marine did not have the said amount and pleaded with him to excuse her. Instead, Asio Moses pulled out a gun hidden in his black jacket and shot Etitu Marine dead instantly before fleeing the scene,” Angucia said.
Following the shooting, police alerted the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), prompting a joint intelligence-led operation.
“The prime suspect was intercepted along the Koboko–Yumbe road and was put out of action after a serious exchange of gunfire. His gun was recovered by the officers and exhibited,” Angucia said.
Police also arrested Data Bernard, 26, a South Sudanese refugee and boda boda rider from Bidibidi Refugee Settlement in Yumbe District, who was allegedly transporting the suspect. His motorcycle was impounded, and he remains in custody to assist with investigations.
Both crime scenes were processed by investigators, while the bodies of Ititu Mariam and Asio Moses were taken to Koboko Hospital for postmortem examinations. Mariam’s body was later released to her relatives for burial.
Investigators say preliminary findings indicate that Asio Moses had repeatedly returned from South Sudan to extort money from his father’s tenants.
“Investigations indicate that one Asio Moses has been an SPLA-IO rebel in South Sudan. He has been forcefully demanding money from his father’s tenants whenever he sneaks back from his rebel activities,” Angucia explained.
Police have opened a murder-by-shooting case under Koboko CRB 345/2026, and investigations are ongoing.
SSP Angucia warned that the porous borders between Uganda, South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo continue to facilitate the illegal movement of firearms, increasing the risk of gun violence in border communities.
“We encourage the general public to strengthen neighbourhood watch and report people holding guns illegally to the nearest authorities for timely arrest and recovery of illegal firearms to prevent gun violence in the region and the entire country,” she said.
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