Mukono school director kidnapped, killed by gunmen

MUKONO - Namumira village in Mukono town is still gripped with fear following the recovery of Godfrey Wayengera's body a few hours after he was kidnapped by a gang donning clothes similar to the army uniform.

The 45-year-old Wayengera of Nsube A village was the director of Beloved Daycare and Nursery School in Nsube, and a leader at St Hannington Church of Uganda.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson Patrick Onyango, the body of Wanyengera, an employee of Compassion International, was discovered on the road near the railway line.

Police also confirmed receiving reports that he was allegedly kidnapped along with his wife, Christine Najabi, while travelling from a burial in Mbale, where they had gone for burial. 

The captors, he added, wore clothes similar to the UPDF uniform. 

It is alleged that the captors claimed they were taking the couple to Mukono police for interrogation, but instead, turned to Kyungu Road, where Wayengera was reportedly killed.

Godfrey Wayengera

Police say that in her initial statement, Najabi said she was dumped at Jinja Minsidye in Goma Division. 

It's reported that she was rescued by some unidentified people who took her medical treatment at Mukono General Hospital.

Onyango added that the Police responded, recorded witness statements, and took the body to Mulago City mortuary for postmortem examination. 

Motor vehicle registration number UBP 520A Fielder was recovered from Jinja Misindye in Goma division and is now parked at Police. 

The suspects remain at large.

Namumira village leaders, led by village chairman Henry Lukomu and defence secretary Abdukrim Tumusime, said that crime has increased in their area, and have attributed it to the Railway companies who refused residents to do farming along their premises, which has since turned bushy.

Witness narration

Nsuube 'A' village chairman Eric Ssemakula narrated, "After getting alerts that Wanyengera is missing,  I called the police and I informed the officer in charge of Operation who tracked the vehicle through their cameras up to Iganga. We slept at 3:00am without getting anything, but in the morning, we got the news that he was killed and dumped at Namumira.”

Deputy Mukono Resident Officer Hassan Kasibante condemned the murder and assured the family that they would do everything to ensure that the killers were arrested.