News
Five arrested over Kassanda double murder, coffee robbery
The suspects are accused of raiding a home in Lukira village, Myanzi sub-county, on July 2, where they allegedly killed Joseph Ssali, 48, and his wife, Regina Mariza, before grabbing seven bags of coffee and cash.
Wamala regional police spokesperson SSP Lameck Kigozi. (Courtesy photo)
By: John Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
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Five suspects have been detained in connection with the robbery and murder of two farmworkers in Kassanda District, in what investigators have described as a major breakthrough in the case.
The suspects are accused of raiding a home in Lukira village, Myanzi sub-county, on July 2, where they allegedly killed Joseph Ssali, 48, and his wife, Regina Mariza, before grabbing seven bags of coffee and cash.
Wamala regional police spokesperson SSP Lameck Kigozi said detectives tracked down the prime suspect in Masaka City.
Information obtained during the arrest led investigators to four other suspects in Myanzi sub-county.
The suspects have been identified as Joan Nakavuma, 38, of Katwe in Masaka City; Babangida Kasumba, 26; Meddy Nsereko, alias "Baamu Mukooki", 32; Damian Kule, 24; and John Yamulemye, alias "Doctor", 23, all residents of Kalama LC1 in Myanzi Parish.
The five remain in custody and will be arraigned in court after the Resident State Attorney in Kassanda sanctions the charges.
During the security operation, Police also recovered motorcycles believed to have been used by the suspects to travel to and from the crime scene.
The hunt for the suspects was launched after Ssali's body was discovered on July 3 in a civilian operation led by LC1 chairperson Sulaiman Kakinda, who later alerted police.
Mariza's partially buried body was recovered six days later in neighbouring Kyaseta village.
Kigozi attributed the breakthrough to coordinated investigations involving the Flying Squad Unit and the use of forensic tools, tracking technology, CCTV footage and canine units.
The five remain in custody and will be arraigned in court after the Resident State Attorney in Kassanda sanctions the charges.
During the security operation, Police also recovered motorcycles believed to have been used by the suspects to travel to and from the crime scene.
The hunt for the suspects was launched after Ssali's body was discovered on July 3 in a civilian operation led by LC1 chairperson Sulaiman Kakinda, who later alerted police.
Mariza's partially buried body was recovered six days later in neighbouring Kyaseta village.
Kigozi attributed the breakthrough to coordinated investigations involving the Flying Squad Unit and the use of forensic tools, tracking technology, CCTV footage and canine units.
"The human aspect of professional investigators coupled with a robust Flying Squad Unit, which can exploit forensic analytical tools, tracking devices, CCTV and canine units, gives us confidence that the vision of a crime-free society is within reach," Kigozi said.
The arrests come as the Uganda Police Force's 2025 Annual Crime Report shows that reported crime fell by 10.2%, from 218,715 cases in 2024 to 196,405 cases in 2025.
Motorcycle aggravated robberies also declined by 8.2%, from 510 cases to 468, although the report indicates that such crimes remain a significant concern, particularly in urban areas.
The report further shows that police recovered 294 of the 470 motorcycles stolen during aggravated robberies in 2025.
It also highlights increased use of technology in criminal investigations through the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' Crime Data Analysis Centre, which supports the tracking of robbery patterns, identification of suspects and evidence-based prosecutions.
Under Ugandan law, aggravated robbery—where offenders are armed with dangerous weapons or cause grievous harm or death during a robbery—is punishable by life imprisonment or death.
The arrests come as the Uganda Police Force's 2025 Annual Crime Report shows that reported crime fell by 10.2%, from 218,715 cases in 2024 to 196,405 cases in 2025.
Motorcycle aggravated robberies also declined by 8.2%, from 510 cases to 468, although the report indicates that such crimes remain a significant concern, particularly in urban areas.
The report further shows that police recovered 294 of the 470 motorcycles stolen during aggravated robberies in 2025.
It also highlights increased use of technology in criminal investigations through the Directorate of Criminal Investigations' Crime Data Analysis Centre, which supports the tracking of robbery patterns, identification of suspects and evidence-based prosecutions.
Under Ugandan law, aggravated robbery—where offenders are armed with dangerous weapons or cause grievous harm or death during a robbery—is punishable by life imprisonment or death.