Bodies of 4 boda riders discovered

By Dixon Ampumuza and Patson Baraire

Four bodies of boda boda riders recently murdered by a gang of robbers in Kanungu town were yesterday exhumed by the Police in one homestead.

The discovery of the four bodies buried in a banana plantation of a prominent retired medical assistant, Wilson Karaira of Kajara cell in Kanungu town council shocked the residents.

The cyclists are believed to have been ambushed, robbed of their motorcycles, killed and buried in shallow graves.
Karaira’s wife, a nurse, her son and a family friend are being held by the Police in connection with the robberies and murders, the southwestern region Police spokesperson, Elly Maate,  said yesterday.

“We uncovered four graves and exhumed the bodies,” Maate said, adding that they suspect the murders were carried out between July 2011 and to date.

Eyewitnesses said three of the bodies had been stripped naked and the genitals reportedly chopped off. 

To disguise the shallow graves, banana plants were planted on them. For a passer-by, the graves, which were about 100 metres from the family’s residence were not visible.

“They would ambush the cyclists, murder them in cold blood and bury them. We have arrested three suspects. They are Francis Monday, 28, Phillip Asiimwe, 20, a son to Karaira and his mother Gorretti Kabaza,55 and a nurse at Mozolindi health centre in Kanungu town. The prime suspect, also a son to Karaira, is on the run,” Maate added.

Asiimwe is said to be pursuing a Bachelor of Arts (Education) in Kyambogo University.

Residents identified the suspect on the run as Martin Akampulira from whose home two motorcycles were recovered.
Akampulira is reportedly said to be a secondary school teacher in the area.

“We will interrogate Karaira. He is elderly and physically disabled,” Maate disclosed.
The fourth body was reportedly buried only last Friday. “The neighbours said they have not attended any burial at the home,” Maate explained.

He said the victims were yet to be identified.

“The bodies have decomposed and cannot easily be identified. We want people who have lost their motorcycle to come to Kanungu Hospital to help identify the victims. If a person had a motorcycle and the rider went missing, he could be one of the victims,” Maate added.

The Police were holding Kabaza on grounds that she must have known the robberies and murders by her sons. She is also the area vice-chairperson.

Sources said Police was tipped off by a person who previously had close contacts with the family, but recently developed misunderstanding with the family.

Monday operates a bar, motorcycle spare parts shop and a merchandise retail shop in the town. His wife had locked up the shops and fled by the time the Police went to search them.