Police man bets suspect’s money, tragically takes own life

Investigations into how one of their own committed suicide after allegedly blowing shs800,000 that belonged to a suspect in a bet are ongoing.

According to Luke Owoyesigyire, a spokesman for the Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police, Constable Sadiq Hussein Baguma who was working with Kisoga Police Station in Mukono, was discovered hanging in his home at the Namanve barracks.

Owoyesigyire pointed out that on March 4, 2024, the deceased had received approximately shs800,000 and other belongings from a suspect but had withheld them. Through family members, they discovered that he had told them the money had been taken from him at a betting station.

The deceased allegedly told family members the money had been stolen from him, but police believe he lost it when he was gambling.

According to Owoyesigyire, the deceased would call his family members after losing the money and beg them to assist him in raising the lost funds.

“He made threats to the relatives that they would not see him again alive if they didn’t help him raise the funds,” Owoyesigyire said.

He mentioned that a strong stench compelled nearby residents of the Namanve police barracks to break down Baguma’s door four days later, on March 8.

“In the house, the neighbours found him hanging on a tied bed sheet around his neck on a wooden decker bed.”

According to the police, an investigation into the incident has begun to determine what exactly happened that caused the police officer to die.

However, Owoyesigyire criticized police officers for embezzling money for suspects, pointing out that such actions are illegal.

He insisted that the various police stations and posts keep track of and secure the belongings of suspects.