Kamuli NRM LC5 flag aspirant petitions CID over her husband's murder

KAMULI - The death of Sowedi Egumbye, who was gunned down on the night of July 16 in Kamuli district, continues to stir deep political controversy. 

Conflicting narratives have emerged between his wife, who alleges he was murdered by security forces, and the Police, who say he was a hunted criminal. 

A copy of the post-mortem report authored by Dr Emmanuel Mutuuza, dated July 17, 2025, indicated the cause of death as “head trauma due to gunshot injury.” 

His wife, Irene Sarah Auma, a National Resistance Movement (NRM) aspirant for the Kamuli district LC5 chairperson seat, has since lodged a formal complaint with the Director of Criminal Investigations (CID), AIGP Tom Magambo. 

She is demanding a full inquiry into what she terms the “murder of my husband by security operatives.” 

In a detailed letter received on July 21, at the CID headquarters in Kibuli, Kampala, Auma wrote: “My husband Sowedi Egumbye was killed on the night of July 16, 2025, along Jinja–Kamuli road at a place known as Buwagi by security operatives, armed and dressed in army uniform. 

Security operatives took away the body from the scene and it took us close to five hours to see the deceased.” 

She said her attempts to officially report the incident were blocked at multiple police stations. 

Irene Sarah Auma

“On the morning of July 17, I went to Nawanyago Police Station to report the death, but the officer in charge said they had instructions from the Kamuli district Police commander not to enter the case. I was referred to Kamuli Central Police Station, but there, too, they refused to record my statement,” she said. 

Auma also claims her husband had, in the days leading up to the incident, received threats. Her account ends with a chilling note. 

“We have people who witnessed everything and are willing to co-operate, but they are also being hunted and need protection before the same happens to them,” she said. 
The death comes at a time when security agencies, led by the Police, are probing a string of cases arising from the aftermath of the NRM parliamentary primaries – ranging from election malpractice to violent incidents, including murders. 

Police's take  

On July 17, the Police issued a statement through spokesperson Rusoke Kituuma, providing a sharply different version of events. 

It stated: “On the night of July 16, 2025, Sowedi Egumbye was put out of action during a pursuit by security forces. He is alleged to have kidnapped John Bosco Kauma, who was being transported in a vehicle, registration number UAR 749F (Toyota Harrier). Five suspects were arrested to assist with investigations.” 

Earlier, Michael Kasadha, the Police spokesperson for Busoga North, which comprises Buyende, Kaliro, Kamuli and Luuka districts, added context to the case. 

He confirmed that Egumbye was married to Auma and was politically active, but described the fatal incident as an armed confrontation. 

“Egumbye was part of a group that forcibly entered the home of Hon. Martin Muzaale in Buzaaya county. The group rammed into the MP’s gate using a vehicle in their motorcade. When the Police ordered them to leave, they defied those instructions. Warning shots were fired, but Egumbye was fatally hit,” he said. 

Director of Criminal Investigations (CID) AIGP Tom Magambo.

Kasadha also disclosed a staggering detail: Egumbye reportedly had a criminal record of over 50 cases, including robbery, malicious damage to property, violent conduct and fraud. 

“In February this year, Egumbye was arrested in Mukono district for allegedly defrauding a businessman of sh90m in a fake dollar exchange deal,” he said. 

The incident occurred amid a tense political atmosphere as the ruling NRM party held primaries to select flag-bearers for parliamentary polls on July 17, involving over 72,000 villages and 18.4 million registered voters. 

To pre-empt violence, the Inspector General of Police, Abas Byakagaba, deployed nine senior officers at director level to oversee hotspot regions.

These included Moses Kafeero (Busoga), Stephen Tanui (northern), Patrick Lawot (Karamoja), Paul Nkore (Kyoga), Godfrey Maate Bolingo (central), Moses Muluya (Albertine), Richard Ecega (Kampala metropolitan), Hillary Kulaigye (Southwestern), and Dennis Namuwoza (Rwenzori). 

Their mission? Co-ordinate rapid responses, intelligence gathering and de-escalate violent flashpoints. 

This operation was supported by a high-tech surveillance system. Long-range cameras were set up in volatile districts to feed live images directly to the Police headquarters in Naguru, Kampala and regional centres. 

Egumbye’s death has left more questions in Kamuli than answers. For instance, relatives wondered: “Why did Nawanyago Police Station and Kamuli Central Police Station reportedly refuse to register Auma’s complaint about her husband’s death?”

“Ordinarily, the death of any citizen — especially under violent circumstances — must be entered into police records as a matter of procedure. So, why would two police stations decline to take a statement from Egumbye’s wife? Was this an effort to avoid creating an official paper trail? Or did officers act under instructions to suppress documentation of the incident?” Egumbye’s close relative added. 

The relative went on to say: “If Egumbye had over 50 criminal cases as the Police claim, why was he not in custody or on close police watch during such a politically charged period? 

“The Police assert that Egumbye had a documented history of robbery, fraud, violence and more. But if that is accurate, why was he walking free just days before a nationwide primary election? Was he a fugitive or had he become untouchable due to political protection? What proof does the Police have that Egumbye was involved in the alleged crimes?”

Police crime report over last four years 

In the last four years, murders through assault have the highest numbers, with 1,095 cases registered in 2021, 1,085 cases in 2022, 1,127 cases in 2023 and 1,339 cases last year. 

This was followed by murder by mob action with 759 cases registered in 2021, 953 cases in 2022, 1,052 cases registered in 2023 and 1,016 cases registered last year. 
The report also indicated that there were 188 cases of murder by shooting registered last year compared to 300 cases in 2023.