Kole shooting: one dead, three injured during mob rescue

19 August 2026, 6:19 pm

By Winnie Auma

Police in Kole District have opened investigations into a fatal shooting at Lwala Trading Centre in Ayer Sub-county on Tuesday night, 18 August 2026, leaving one person dead and three others injured.

The incident occurred at about 10pm after police officers responded to reports that a teacher at Abilonino Demonstration Primary School, identified as Okello Otim Samuel, had allegedly been caught attempting to defile a 14-year-old pupil at the same school.

According to police, two officers from Abilonino Police Post went to rescue the teacher but were overpowered by a mob and confined in the same house as the suspect.

The officers called for reinforcement from Kole Central Police Station. However, when the response team arrived, the mob allegedly started pelting the police with stones, seriously injuring Corporal Ojota Alfred, a 54-year-old police officer attached to Kole Central Police Station.

Police said some bullets were discharged during the confrontation, resulting in the death of 28-year-old Aluri Morris, a resident of Lwala Trading Centre, while two other people were injured.

The injured include 15-year-old Odongo James, a pupil at Abilonino Primary School; 23-year-old Obong Daniel; and Corporal Ojota Alfred. They are receiving treatment at different health facilities.

The teacher was rescued and arrested together with the alleged victim. He has been charged with aggravated defilement and aggravated trafficking in children, while police have also opened cases of unlawful wounding and malicious damage to a police vehicle.

Police have opened a General Enquiry File (GEF 010/2026) to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal shooting.

A team comprising detectives, homicide officers and crime scene experts visited the scene, examined and documented it, and recorded statements from witnesses.

The body of the deceased was taken to Lira Regional Referral Hospital mortuary pending a postmortem examination.