Peaceful Eid overshadowed by poisoning, domestic assault cases

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As Muslims across the country celebrated Eid al-Fitr in largely peaceful festivities, incidents of domestic violence and suspected poisoning cast a shadow over the holiday.

One of the most shocking cases involved a man found dead in Erisa zone, Kyebando, Kampala, holding a bottle of wine. Police suspect poisoning may have been the cause.

Meanwhile, in Masanafu, police arrested a woman for allegedly assaulting her husband in a case of domestic violence. The victim, whose details were not immediately available, was rescued and is receiving medical attention.

Despite these incidents, Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango said the celebrations remained largely calm, attributing this to community policing and heightened security deployment.

“Eid celebrations went on peacefully, with heightened security across the city. However, we registered a few isolated incidents, including sudden deaths, domestic violence, and an unfortunate case of murder by shooting,” Onyango said.

Among the reported incidents was a sudden death at PF Petrol Station in Kanyanya on the morning of March 30. The deceased was discovered at around 7:00am, and police transported the body to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination.

A hit-and-run accident was also reported along the Northern Bypass in Kyebando on the night of March 30. A pedestrian was knocked dead by a speeding vehicle, which fled the scene. Police are investigating to identify the driver responsible.

Elsewhere, in Nsambya West, a man was killed in an attack at around 12:30am on March 31. While details surrounding the motive remain unclear, police are treating the case as a homicide investigation.

Another serious incident occurred in Kamuli Zone C, where a security guard shot and killed a suspected thief at around 3:23am on March 31.

Onyango said the suspect had allegedly stolen a kettle from a residence before being confronted by the guard. His body was taken to Mulago Hospital for a postmortem.

Onyango urged the public to cooperate with security agencies and report any criminal activities.

“We appreciate the communities that worked with security forces to maintain peace. Investigations into the reported incidents are ongoing,” he added.

Police have not yet disclosed further details on the suspected poisoning case and the cause of death in Kanyanya, pending postmortem reports.