Former Bushenyi chief finance officer laid to rest, seven suspects in custody

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A sombre mood gripped Bushenyi as family, friends and residents gathered to lay to rest Abias Asiimwe Baryayanga, 58, a former Bushenyi chief finance officer and businessman who was brutally murdered, his body burnt and concealed in the ceiling of his rental building in Kashenyi Trading Centre.

Asiimwe, a resident of Kyandango cell, Ishaka division in Bushenyi-Ishaka municipality, was buried on April 22, 2026, at his ancestral home in the same area.

The burial service was led by the Bishop of West Ankole Diocese, Johnson Twinomujuni, who called for speedy justice.

Bishop Twinomujuni consoles the widow during the burial. (Photo by Bruno Mugizi)

ishop of West Ankole Diocese, Johnson Twinomujuni greeting mourners at the venue. (Photo by Bruno Mugizi)

“We urge the courts to expedite the trial of the suspects so that justice is delivered without delay,” he said.

Bushenyi-Ishaka Municipality Member of Parliament, Derrick Kabuura, linked the increasing cases of violent crime among the youth to the neglect of the boy child.

“There is a need for both government and parents to refocus on the upbringing of the boy child to curb such incidents,” Kabuura said.

Family members described Asiimwe as a disciplined and dedicated man whose loss has left a deep void. His children said he was a strict but caring father who emphasised discipline, education and faith.

His widow, Annet Nabaasa Asiimwe, said the loss was painful. “He didn’t die on a sickbed; he was killed,” she said.

Murder and discovery

Asiimwe was found dead on April 19, 2026, a day after he went missing.

According to family members, his disappearance raised concern after he failed to return home, prompting a search. His brother, Nelson Atwine, said the family was alerted by his wife after repeated calls to his phone went unanswered.

The deceased was last seen the previous day at around 6:30 pm in Kashenyi town, where he had gone to demand rent arrears from one of his tenants before disappearing.

One of the residents, who requested anonymity, said tensions had existed between the deceased and the tenant over unpaid rent.

“There had been a dispute over about sh500,000. The businessman had been demanding payment for a long time,” the source said.

The search ended at one of his rental properties in Kashenyi trading centre, where residents discovered blood stains. Police later recovered his charred remains from the ceiling of the building.

Arrests

Greater Bushenyi Police spokesperson Apollo Tayebwa confirmed that seven suspects had been arrested in connection with the murder and are being detained at Bushenyi Central Police Station.

He named the suspects as Clinton Aikiriza, a tenant and the prime suspect. Others are Bridget Namusisi, Edgar Twinamatsiko, Oswald Mugisha, Hellen Keminyeeto, Arnold Ainomugisha and Sharon Ninsiima.

Police said one of the suspects, believed to be a tenant, was found hiding in the ceiling where the body had been concealed.

The Greater Bushenyi Regional Police commander, Godfrey Achiria, said the case initially started as a missing person inquiry before being upgraded to murder.

“We were able to track down the suspects with the help of the community,” Achiria said.

He added that key exhibits, including a panga and a jerrican suspected to have contained petrol, were recovered. The suspects are expected to appear in court.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Asiimwe was killed before his body was set on fire, in what is believed to have been an attempt to destroy evidence. Police have not yet established the motive.

Profile

Asiimwe was a trained economist, former Bushenyi chief finance officer and businessman.

He studied at Mbarara High School and Ntare School before graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Makerere University in 1993. He later obtained a Master’s degree from Pondicherry University in India in 2001.

He served as administrative secretary and district chief financial officer for Bushenyi District Local Government from 2006 to 2019 and had recently been elected chairperson of Kashenyi town traders.