The incident, according to a statement released by the Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, happened last night at around 11pm.
The statement also further reveals that the errant man was stopped by police officers who were manning the police post that night.
“It is alleged that our officers were manning the station for the night shift when they noticed a man approaching with a 2-litre water bottle containing an unknown substance,” the statement reads, adding, “One of the officers then asked the man what was in the bottle and what had brought him to the Police station but he responded by pouring the substance and setting a fire.”
The man allegedly got burnt in the process, and started running towards the officers, prompting one of them to shoot at him. The fire was later put out and the man was rushed to Mulago Hospital for treatment.
It has been reported that he has since succumbed to the injuries he sustained at Masanafu Police Station.
Police say investigations into the matter have commenced to establish the attacker’s motive and whether he is part of the gang that has been attacking Police stations or not.
“A team of investigation officers arrived at the scene and picked up the 2-litre bottle and exhibited it for analysis to ascertain the contents. The team also picked a matchbox he used to start the fire,” says Owoyesigyire.
The media has on several occasions been awash with a series of attacks on security posts. The most recent one happened on 31 October when undisclosed assailants attacked Busiika Police Station in Luweero District, killing two police officers and injuring two others. One of the injured police officers later succumbed to the injuries. On the evening, the attackers also took away two guns.
In the earlier attack at Kiwumpa village, the attackers killed a police officer at a traffic checkpoint as they took two guns.
The Internal Affairs Minister, General Kahinda Otafiire, told the press last year that the attacks are linked to organised criminal gangs. He however said the attacks do not indicate a manifestation of rebel activities in the country.