Police in Kakumiro District are detaining several of their own officers in connection with the suspected murder of the district youth chairperson, Ronald Kitone, whose death occurred on June 1, 2026.
According to the Albertine South Regional Police spokesperson, Julius Allan Hakiza, the incident stems from an operation in which Kitone was being arrested over allegations that he had planned to kill his father, a claim that was reportedly made to authorities before officers moved in.
Hakiza said that during the arrest operation, police officers allegedly deployed a tear gas canister into the room where Kitone was being held. Residents of Kikwaya have since raised concerns, alleging that exposure to the tear gas contributed to his death.
Following public outcry, the officers involved were taken into custody and transferred to Hoima Central Police Station, where they are currently being held as investigations continue.
Police say the detained officers will remain in custody pending the outcome of a postmortem examination, which is expected to determine whether Kitone died as a result of tear gas exposure or suspected poisoning.
Authorities have urged the public to remain calm as inquiries into the circumstances surrounding the death continue.
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