Masaka woman lynched

Sep 28, 2005

HER burnt body was found at the neighbour’s verandah in a pool of blood amid the rubble of stones and clubs that were used to beat her.

By Eddie Ssejjoba
In Masaka

HER burnt body was found at the neighbour’s verandah in a pool of blood amid the rubble of stones and clubs that were used to beat her.

The district CID officer, James Bangirana, said Jane Rose Nassuuna, 54, was stoned and hacked with an axe to death on Monday evening by a village mob that also burnt the body. She was tried and convicted in the LC court.

The incident occurred at Kibenge village in Buwunga, Bukoto East, during a village court called by the area LC1 chairman, John Mugerwa, Bangirana said.

The Police in Masaka on Tuesday arrested over 12 residents, including Local Council officials from Buwunga, in connection with the murder of the old woman who was accused of being a witch.

The woman’s husband, Yeronimu Lukwago, 69, was devastated.

Her daughters fled for dear life after attending the court and witnessing the assault on their mother.

Bangirana said the LC officials condemned the woman and let the villagers ‘punish’ her, claiming she had become a menace to the village.

The Police, who visited the scene on Tuesday, picked several residents but other suspects fled. The Police recovered the axe and other tools suspected to have been used in the murder.

The suspects included Brahim Lukwago, 56, who dragged the woman to court claiming that she had bewitched his wife who recently died in Kitovu Hospital.

Bangirana condemned the act and blamed the LC officials for having aided the killing instead protecting life.

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