Police probes suspected murder and arson near Bugoma forest reserve
The deceased was first beaten by the officers before they pushed him into a fire they had set using clothes belonging to workers who had escaped.
Naboth Iguru, an eyewitness (right), points out one of the detectives from Kasongo-Kyangwali Police Station, where the deceased was allegedly burnt. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
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KIKUUBE — Police detectives in Kikuube district are investigating the death of a man in his mid-20s who was allegedly assaulted and set on fire by people identified as Uganda Wildlife Authority (UWA) patrol officers in Bugoma Forest Reserve.
The deceased is identified as Musuni Muham, a Burundian National and casual labourer in Kyangwali sub-county.
The murder case is registered KGL CRB 273/2026, and the case was reported by Alphonse Atuja at Kasonga Kyangwali police station.
The Albertine South Region police spokesperson, Julius Hakiiza, confirmed the death of the deceased, adding that police had launched an investigation to ascertain what transpired and resulted in the death.
Witnesses report that the incident occurred on Tuesday, September 15, on a section of land in Katikara Ngogoli in Kasonga parish in Kyangwali sub-county claimed by both UWA and Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom.
The Kingdom officials, including Chief Prince (Okwir), Eng. Fred Mugenyi Rucunya, claim that the four square miles is ancestral land which was restituted by the government.
September 15th scuffle
Naboth Iguru, who witnessed the incident, narrates that the deceased was arrested by UWA officials. At the time, he was tilling in the gardens of one Rev. Fr Joakim Mugisa.
Kasongo-Kyangwali Police Station, showing the bean gardens allegedly destroyed by the officers. (Credit: Peter Abaanabasazi)
"They moved around several gardens. When they reached where Musuni was working, the officers arrested him and moved with him as they gathered clothes, jerrycans, and sacks used by the gardeners and set them on fire.
Musuni was pushed into the fire after he failed to cooperate with the officers,” Iguru narrated. He revealed that other men working in the nearby fields fled the scene.
Iguru, who said that he was arrested and detained at Kikuube police station and was given a police bond on Wednesday, claims that UWA officers also slashed their gardens of beans before the incident happened.
Jackson Oketi, another witness, said the deceased was first beaten by the officers before they pushed him into a fire they had set using clothes belonging to workers who had escaped.
He said that several things, including clothes, jerrycans, tarpaulin and bedsheets, were burnt by the officers, and they also destroyed their crops.
A police source from Kasongo Kyangwali police station who preferred anonymity said that the deceased died at a private home in Kasongo refugee block.
He revealed that preliminary examination revealed that Musuni's body had fire burns on his buttocks and legs, and they suspect the fire burns caused his death since he did not get medical attention after the incident.
The body was taken to Kikuube District Health Centre IV in Kiziranfumbi town council, pending postmortem.
By Saturday September 19, the Communication and Public Relations office at UWA had not issued any formal statement about the incident.