News
UPDF soldier hunted over shooting casual worker in Kasese
The deceased, identified as Isaac Mwesige, a resident of Kisagazi Cell, Nyamwamba Division, Kasese Municipality, was shot at about 4:46pm on October 6, 2026.
Elly Maate, the Rwenzori East regional police spokesperson, identified the suspect as Pte Thomas Aliganyira, an officer attached to Rukooki Army Barracks in Kasese Municipality.
By: Simon Masaba, Journalist @New Vision
KASESE - Police in Kasese are hunting for a Uganda People’s Defence Forces soldier accused of shooting dead a 34-year-old casual worker following an altercation at a home in Nyamwamba Division.
The deceased, identified as Isaac Mwesige, a resident of Kisagazi Cell, Nyamwamba Division, Kasese Municipality, was shot at about 4:46pm on October 6, 2026.
Elly Maate, the Rwenzori East regional police spokesperson, identified the suspect as Pte Thomas Aliganyira, an officer attached to Rukooki Army Barracks in Kasese Municipality.
According to police, Mwesige went to the home of Dan Kashagama, the self-proclaimed King of Basongora, in Kihara Cell, where he allegedly confronted a woman who was carrying a child.
Police said the woman raised an alarm, attracting neighbours to the scene. However, the neighbours reportedly kept their distance after seeing Mwesige armed with a pickaxe.
Mwesige allegedly then moved towards the guard at the premises, prompting the officer to fire a warning shot. Police said he continued advancing towards the officer, who subsequently shot him.
Mwesige was pronounced dead following the shooting.
Maate said the area Division Police Commander and his team responded to the scene, which was examined and documented before the body was conveyed to Kasese Health Centre III mortuary for postmortem examination.
Police said the woman raised an alarm, attracting neighbours to the scene. However, the neighbours reportedly kept their distance after seeing Mwesige armed with a pickaxe.
Mwesige allegedly then moved towards the guard at the premises, prompting the officer to fire a warning shot. Police said he continued advancing towards the officer, who subsequently shot him.
Mwesige was pronounced dead following the shooting.
Maate said the area Division Police Commander and his team responded to the scene, which was examined and documented before the body was conveyed to Kasese Health Centre III mortuary for postmortem examination.
Police said inquiries into the shooting are ongoing and efforts are underway to arrest the suspect.
Murder statistics
According to the 2025 annual crime report released last week, police recorded 4,238 homicide cases in 2025, a slight decrease from 4,329 cases reported in 2024.
The victims included 3,397 adult males, 550 adult females, 173 male juveniles, and 148 female juveniles. Of these, 338 victims were killed through hacking, compared to 310 in 2024.
An analysis of data indicates that the motives behind these killings largely stemmed from land disputes, domestic violence, acts of mob justice, family misunderstandings, crimes of passion and business rivalries.
Murder statistics
According to the 2025 annual crime report released last week, police recorded 4,238 homicide cases in 2025, a slight decrease from 4,329 cases reported in 2024.
The victims included 3,397 adult males, 550 adult females, 173 male juveniles, and 148 female juveniles. Of these, 338 victims were killed through hacking, compared to 310 in 2024.
An analysis of data indicates that the motives behind these killings largely stemmed from land disputes, domestic violence, acts of mob justice, family misunderstandings, crimes of passion and business rivalries.