Lwengo coffee farmer strangled to death, 50 bags stolen
Bifaki’s killing follows a rise in attacks on coffee farmers and traders in Greater Masaka.
Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka regional police spokesperson, said investigations had begun to establish those behind the aggravated robbery and murder. (File photo)
By Charles Etukuri
Journalists @New Vision
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Police in Lwengo district are investigating the strangulation of a prominent coffee farmer and the aggravated robbery of 50 bags of produce from his stores on September 10, 2025.
Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka regional police spokesperson, said investigations had begun to establish those behind the aggravated robbery and murder of 53-year-old businessman and farmer, Goerge William Bifaki, and the attack on his family in Lwengo district, within the Masaka West police region.
“It is alleged that on Wednesday, at around 10:00 pm, unknown people attacked the family and home of George William Bifaki, a 53-year-old businessman who deals mainly in coffee, killed him and took away his 50 bags of coffee. They didn’t stop at that but went ahead and tied his wife, Madrine Nabido and the other three workers with ropes and robbed them of phones and other items,” Kasirye said.
He added that the incident happened in Kikenene village, Kikenene parish, in Lwengo district.
“Investigations are ongoing, and we have removed the body and taken it to Masaka district Hospital mortuary, pending investigation. We condemn these acts and urge whoever has information that can lead to the arrest of these individuals to volunteer. We are trying our best using our techniques to ensure these thugs are arrested,” he said.
Bifaki’s killing follows a rise in attacks on coffee farmers and traders in Greater Masaka.
In February this year, a 28-year-old coffee trader in Nakatete village, Lwengo district, was killed by unidentified assailants. The victim, Enock Sserunjoji, a resident of Nakatete village in Kisekka subcounty, was attacked near a swamp along the Lwengo-Mbirizi highway on February 19, 2025.
Preliminary reports indicate that Sserunjoji, who commonly used a Bajaj Boxer motorcycle, was ambushed as he returned home that night. Assailants are said to have set a trap using a rope that caused him to fall off the motorcycle before they attacked him.
It is also believed the attackers made off with money from coffee sales he had concluded earlier in the day.