The Police Constable Alex Adei attached to the Kampala City Tactical Counter Terrorism Unit, who is now in custody over murder charges and misuse of firearms was on his way to Karamoja.
Adei, with Force Number 55295 shocked the police fraternity last weekend when he allegedly showered his estranged lover, Barbra Apia, 32, believed to be the mother of his two children, and a fellow police colleague with bullets, killing them instantly.
Reasons for the Naguru Barracks gruesome double murder are now the subjects under the watchful ears of detectives, but most people are quick to blame it on love gone sour triggering jealousy.
Adei’s history of misconduct has raised concerns among his contemporaries, who question why he was continuously deployed with a gun despite previous incidents, but the matter was brushed aside by the bosses who branded the accusers as simply jealous lads.
Reports indicate that Adei, who hails from Abim, one of the districts that form the volatile Karamoja region has been involved in multiple cases of misuse of firearms, resulting in the deaths of approximately five people, including the latest two victims.
In one incident, Adei allegedly shot and seriously injured one of his brothers over a family disagreement, leaving the brother permanently disabled with only one arm.
Adei was arrested on William Street near the casual labourers unit of Kakira Sugar Works Ltd along the Jinja-Iganga Highway in the dead night.
Very trusted sources say the hooded Adei was wearing a civilian khaki pair of trousers with a T-shirt, black police jacket, police shoes and riding a red Bajaj Boxer motorcycle registration UGA 528H.
He was intercepted by a team of regular and Field Force Unit (FFU) police personnel from CPS Jinja who were on a routine patrol.
At first, Adei reportedly told fellow cops he was a police officer attached to Iganga CPS and was coming from Lugazi. Pressed further, having been surrounded by armed policemen, Adei confessed to the offence.
Realizing he was now cornered, Adei from the 13th Intake lot claimed he was overwhelmed with anger by the action of his ex-wife’s affair with a fellow police officer.
He was then whisked on a police patrol truck registration number UP5730 to the CPS.
He wished the wife would have sought love from a man not within his reach and not a fellow police man.
At Jinja CPS where he was held briefly, Adei who did not show any sign of remorse hailed the Jinja cops who arrested him for being very vigilant unlike other check points.
“…I only fear Kakira where I have today been arrested, otherwise other checkpoints like Lugazi or Mabira are nothing because I have always used the same route on my bike…”,Adei openly told police at CPS Jinja.
The trigger-happy cop said he was heading to Karamoja where nobody, including the military, was going to get him because he was going to be holed up somewhere in a new world.
Some sources suspect that Adei was probably going to join the criminal groups or cattle rustlers, owing to his police training and good knowledge of gun-use.
Sources have also revealed that Adei had been suspended for months prior to the incident due to misconduct. During this time, he worked as a boda-boda rider in Kampala until he was reinstated.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, sparking conversations about gun control, police accountability, and the psychological evaluation of law enforcement officers.
The case with SD Ref: 52/29/09/2025 at Jinja Road Police Station is currently under investigation.
At CPS Jinja it was entered under SD Ref: 03/30/09/2024.
The incident has sparked a national conversation about the mental health of security personnel.
“…it’s alarming to think that the stress and trauma of combating crime can take such a toll on individuals responsible for keeping us safe…”,a senior police officer recently commented.
With the 2026 general elections just 14 months away, concerns about the police force’s mental well-being are particularly timely.
The upcoming elections, scheduled for January 12 to February 10, 2026, are expected to be highly contested, and the police will play a critical role in maintaining law and order.
Just like in 2021, the elections will likely bring heightened tensions and potential violence, characterized by confrontation and throwing of tear gas further straining the police force’s mental health.
Experts suggest that it is essential for the Uganda Police Force (referred to as frontline force) to prioritize the mental health of its personnel, ensuring they receive adequate support and resources to cope with the stresses of their job.
The general welfare of Uganda Police Force personnel, including salary and accommodation, is crucial for their overall well-being and effectiveness.
Police officers are often paid relatively low salaries, making it challenging to support themselves and their families.
Inadequate housing where most police officers face poor living conditions, overcrowding, and inadequate facilities in dilapidated structures locally known as Mama Ingia,and very old unipots,among others is also a big concern.
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