Five arrested in Kampala after fatal stabbing incident

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Police in Kampala say they are holding five suspects after an attack on a couple led to the death of a person in the city suburb of Makindye.

It is alleged that Tonny Megade, a bodaboda rider operating at the Nakibuka stage in Israel Matovu Zone, was heading home with his wife, Jane Namubiru when he sustained stab wounds that caused his death.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police deputy spokesperson Luke Owoyesigyire, thugs attacked the victim a few moments after parking the motorcycle at a public parking premise in the area.

"They were ambushed by eight thugs, who proceeded to stab him," Owoyesigyire said on October 9, 2024, adding that the victim's wife Namubiru raised an alarm, which attracted the attention of neighbours, forcing the attackers to flee.

He added that preliminary investigations indicate that a phone and some cash were stolen from the deceased before the attackers fled the scene.

The identities of attackers were not readily available by press time.

However, Police in the statement, said that one of the suspects after being arrested denied involvement and immediately sought the intervention of LC1 chairperson for Katale zone  Kyagombwa Sowed, to avoid being taken into detention.

"However, upon learning of the arrest and the suspect's communication with the chairperson, some locals, angered by the murder of their bodaboda colleague, wrongly assumed that the chairperson was involved, " he said, adding that this caused them to take "matters into their own hands and set the office of the LC1 chairperson for Katale zone on fire.

The chairperson was only saved by the swift response from the Police and extinguished the fire before it could cause significant damage.

"We urge the public to remain calm as investigations into the motive behind the murder and the involvement of all individuals continue," he said.

He said the body of the deceased has been conveyed to the City Mortuary for postmortem examination.

According to the Police Annual Crimes Report 2023, robbery is one of the rising crime cases in the country, with a total of 7,772 cases reported last year. This was an increase from 6,854 in 2022, giving a 13.3 increase in this crime.

Cases of robberies where lethal weapons were not used (simple robbery) were 4,745 cases while cases where lethal weapons like firearms, knives hammers and machetes were used (aggravated robberies) were 3,027.