Elderly man killed in Kanungu land dispute, police detain three sons
It is alleged that Joseph Rwakaremera was attacked at his home by three men who strangled him to death, while his youngest son, 18-year-old Swaibu Rwebisengye, survived the attack and sustained serious injuries.
Kigezi Region outgoing police spokesperson Elly Maate, in a statement, said the incident occurred on June 2, 2026, at around 8:30 pm at the deceased’s home. (File photo)
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Police in Kanungu district are holding four suspects, including three sons and a grandson, over the alleged brutal murder of their 83-year-old father in a land-related dispute.
Police described the incident as murder by strangulation and attempted murder.
It is alleged that Joseph Rwakaremera was attacked at his home by three men who strangled him to death, while his youngest son, 18-year-old Swaibu Rwebisengye, survived the attack and sustained serious injuries.
Kigezi Region outgoing police spokesperson Elly Maate, in a statement, said the incident occurred on June 2, 2026, at around 8:30 pm at the deceased’s home in Kebiremo cell, Northern ward, Butogota town council in Kanungu district.
According to the statement, Rwakaremera was preparing a meal with his son inside the house when three men armed with pangas stormed the home, grabbed him and strangled him as he pleaded for mercy.
The son reportedly tried to fight back but was hit on the forehead and pushed under the bed, where he was held as the attackers allegedly ensured the father was dead.
“After ensuring the old man was dead, they fled the scene through the coffee plantation,” Maate stated.
The injured son later managed to escape and alerted his brother, identified as Kayabuki, who reported the matter to Butogota Police Station.
Police attempted to track the suspects using a sniffer dog but lost the trail after the scene was disturbed by residents who had responded to the alarm.
The deceased’s body was taken to Kanungu Health Centre IV for postmortem. Maate said the deceased had previously reported a land dispute involving his former wife and her children, which had at times been treated as domestic violence.
He added that the most recent incident occurred in May 2026, when his children and a grandson allegedly stormed his home and assaulted him. He reported the matter to Kanyantorogo Police Station, where officers reportedly mediated and reconciled him with the family.
Maate said the sons and grandson were arrested to assist police with ongoing investigations into the murder.