Ambrose Lochoto’s Death: Mistaken Identity or Political Targeting?

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Ambrose Lochoto, the chairman of the National Unity Platform (NUP) in Kaabong District, was fatally shot in a regrettable incident on Sunday night. Initially believed to be targeting suspected cattle rustlers, the ambush by security forces ended in Lochoto’s death.

Before his demise, Ambrose Lochoto, aged 30, held the position of the NUP chairman in Kaabong District. Despite his political role, Lochoto’s primary occupation was that of a carpenter in Kaabong Town Council. In 2021, he contested for the Kaabong Town Council LC3 seat under the NUP ticket, albeit unsuccessfully.

The circumstances surrounding Lochoto’s death unfolded in Kakamar sub-county, Kaabong Town Council. The Karamoja Region Police Spokesperson, Mr. Michael Longole, clarified that Lochoto was mistakenly shot by joint security forces. They had been responding to gunfire from suspected cattle rustlers in the area.

According to Mr. Longole, security forces had laid ambushes in known crossing areas for the raiders. However, Lochoto inadvertently walked into the ambush and was fatally shot. Despite speculation linking Lochoto’s political affiliation to the incident, Mr. Longole emphasized that it was unrelated to politics.

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The police spokesperson highlighted Lochoto’s decision to traverse a deserted path during the night, despite hearing gunshots in the vicinity. Mr. Longole reasoned that such circumstances could lead to mistaken identity in an ambush situation.

Contrary to the official police account, some local leaders contested the narrative. District councilor Gabriel Loiki Paak disputed the claim of Lochoto being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Paak recounted Lochoto’s activities on the night of the incident, including his involvement in defusing a fight between two women.

According to Paak, Lochoto sought refuge under a bus during the arrival of a police patrol car. However, he was apprehended, transported to the banks of River Kaabong, and fatally shot. Paak’s assertions were accompanied by claims of discovering Lochoto’s body with multiple bullet wounds and numerous cartridges at the scene.

Police Publicist Longole refuted these claims, labeling them as fabrications. He stated that the shooting was solely due to mistaken identity. The police reportedly conducted an autopsy at Kaabong Hospital and handed over Lochoto’s body to his family following a meeting.

NUP leaders, including Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu (Bobi Wine) and Secretary General David Lewis Rubongoya, condemned Lochoto’s death. They demanded justice for the slain NUP chairman, denouncing what they perceived as a pattern of violence against party members in various regions of Uganda.

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