Another couple slaughtered in Rakai

By John Bosco Mulyowa, Joseph Mutebi Ali Kizza and Deborah Nanfuka

The alarming spate of senseless murders continues to rock the country with the latest victims being a married couple in Rakai that was slaughtered on Sunday night, the day a New Vision journalist, Thomas Pere, was killed in Kampala.

Charles Yiga 34, a coffee dealer who owned a hardware store in Kyotera was slaughtered together with his wife, Maureen Namaato, 30, and their heads taken when thugs drilled a hole in the wall of their house and killed them in the dead of the night.

In a trademark house breaking pattern that first sprung in the areas of Rakai and Masaka, the thugs drilled a hole in Yiga's house located in Ssagala, Kasaali sub county near Kyotera town and accessed the bedroom where the couple was sleeping. The couple was beheaded and their torsos left in a pool of blood, a ghastly sight that greeted their three little orphans (right) on Monday morning.true

The thugs fled with a motorcycle, Yamaha UDE 362R, which was parked in the garage and it's believed this was to ease their getaway.

In what will no doubt be the most horrifying memory of their lives, the three orphans were the first to set eyes on their parents' headless torsos covered in a pool of blood. Their ear deafening screams and wails attracted neighbours who rushed to their rescue.

Shock does not come close to describing the terror that was written on residents' faces. A wave of horror seemed to engulf the entire village as residents wailed and mourned, while others looked on speechless with blank faces, trying to make sense of the situation. A nightmare had once again befallen Rakai.

Joseph Kayondo, a brother to Yiga said he was not aware of any misunderstandings the late could have had with anybody. He said the only incident that came to mind was the time Yiga confiscated school furniture over a debt but the issue was resolved amicably after the administration cleared him.

Rakai police boss Nelson Sooma together with his CIID counterpart Rose Nabakooza arrived at the scene where a sniffer dog was deployed. The dog however only managed to trace a bloodied panga that is believed to have been the murder weapon.

Sooma said they believe the thugs were only after the deceased since nothing in the house had been tampered with besides the stolen motorcycle.

30 people are on record to have been murdered in Rakai alone since January 13, 2013. Prominent of these are Pastor Steven Mugambe, Nowerina Nnaalinya, Maria Namatovu, Berna Nakivumbi, Jane Nakiwala, Andrew Ampiirwe, Christine Nassimbwa, Dan Ssemwanga and Maxensia Nakirijja. These were murdered on the same day in the pastor's home Mugambe in Kyebe.

Grief-striken residents are overwhelmed with horror of Yiga's murder

Others are Yulita Nabasajje of Kirumba, Everisto Ngalukye of Byeerima West, Maxensia Nantale of Kisoga and Ssande Kagolo Katende together with his wife, Cissy  Kagolo.

Meanwhile, the Police are hunting for a man, Steven Kasozi, in relation to the murder of his ex-wife, Margaret Namwanje. Namwanje body was found dumped at the roadside in Matugga last week with her eyes gorged out.

Shockingly, Namwanje happened to be a sister to Isma Ssemaganda of  Kayebe - Gayaza, who together with his wife, Aisha Nagadya, were slaughtered like pigs after thugs drilled a hole in their house and attacked them. The horrifying story run in Bukedde newspaper of May 12, 2013.

Namwanje's relatives point fingers at Kasozi (right) because since her murder he has not been seen anywhere and was conspicuously missing at her burial. Namwanje was laid to rest last Thursday in Mateete - Sembabule. Her brother Sabit Katongole says Kasozi had always accused the deceased of bewitching her stepson.

The two split last year in May and Kasozi got another woman, Teopista Nampiima, with whom they have been  living together in Kazo - Bwaise. Betty Nabbosa, the area LCI deputy chairperson said Kasozi always asked for permission to have witchdoctors testify during village meetings that indeed Namwanje had bewitched his son.

(L-R) Namwanje whose body was discovered in Matugga; Ssemaganda and wife Nagadya who were murder last month

The day of Namwanje's murder, Kasozi is reported to have sent a bodaboda rider, Richard Jooga Ddamulira, to Nampiima's home to collect sh2m. The two are now in police custody. The mindboggling case is registered on file number SD 08/12/06/13.