Locals in Masindi have hailed Police for ending the life of a suspected serial thief accused of terrorizing and robbing them.

The unidentified thug was shot dead on Monday during an attempted armed robbery at Nyabisojo-Kimigi cell in Kisalizi Ward, Buliima Town Council.

Locals allege that the gangsters stormed the area late in the night and started attacking door by door, battering awake locals while stealing their property and animals.

Afraid of being butchered to death, the locals started screaming for help and also contacted the Police authorities who were swift to arrive at the scene.

The Officer in Charge (OC) of Buliima Police, Peter Lukimoi, arrived at the scene at about 2:00am with a few armed officers and demanded that the thugs lay down their machetes and surrender.

There were about six of them armed with sharp pangas and sticks.

However, the thugs resented and charged at the police officers causing the OC to shoot one dead while the rest fled the scene.

Locals have applauded police for killing the thug they believe is part of a criminal gang threatening and robbing them of their hard earned property.

‘’We are very happy, let the rest learn from this one. We don’t know him yet but we have been living in fear, day and night. Our animals are stolen in the night, our people are beaten and robbed…” Alex Kizza, a local at Kimigi cell, said.

Julius Hakiza, the Albertine Region Police Spokesperson confirmed the incident saying the body of the yet to be identified thug was picked up by police and later taken to Masindi Hospital mortuary pending postmortem.

“Our police post received information that suspected thieves were moving in the village, the OC responded in time and found a group of around 6 men armed with pangas and moving with suspected stolen goats. When he approached them, they tried to fight back, so in self defence, he discharged one bullet and one of the suspects was hit on the head and died instantly.”

According to Hakiza, Police has recovered 3 goats at the scene and the hunt for the other five suspects who fled is ongoing.