KASSANDA, 04 January 2026– Police in the Wamala Region are investigating a fatal shooting that occurred Saturday night at the Kamakya Gold Ore Processing Plant in Lugongwe, following an attempted burglary by an unidentified group.
The incident took place at approximately 8:40 PM on January 3, 2026.
According to a statement released by Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lameck Kigozi, the shooting happened after a security guard on duty identified as Daniel Onyait, an employee of Quantico Securico Company, detected “unusual movements” within the facility.
The police report indicates that when Onyait challenged the group to identify themselves, the invaders fled in different directions. In response, the guard discharged bullets from his firearm at one of the fleeing suspects.
”The bullet caught the stranger in the chest, killing him instantly,” SSP Kigozi confirmed.
Officers from the Police Mineral Protection Unit (Lugongwe Detach), led by Sergeant Jimmy Makhoha, arrived shortly after the shooting. They were joined by Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) from the Kassanda district headquarters to process the area.
Current Status of the Investigation
As of Sunday morning, several key developments have been confirmed:
Weapon Recovered: Police recovered an AK-47 submachine gun (Registration No. UG Pol PSO 56400151010447) from the scene.
Suspect in Custody: The security guard, Daniel Onyait, is currently being held by police for questioning as part of the standard inquiry into the use of lethal force.
Body Conveyed: The deceased, an unidentified adult male, has been taken to Kassanda Health Center IV mortuary for a postmortem examination.
In light of the incident, authorities have issued a stern warning to residents of Kassanda and surrounding areas regarding the dangers of trespassing on high-security industrial sites.
”The public is cautioned to desist from trespassing in such highly security-sensitive areas,” SSP Kigozi stated. He added that if access is necessary, individuals must obtain formal permission from the plant management beforehand to avoid tragic misunderstandings.
