Mysterious murders hit central

By Vision Reporters

AS Uganda prepares to commemorate 50 years of Independence, some parts of the country have been hit by a wave of mysterious murders.

The murders, which occur at night, have plunged Ugandans in the Central region in fear and panic.

The most affected districts are Mukono, Masaka and Wakiso.

The assailants reportedly sedate their victims, before breaking part of the wall into their houses and brutally killing them.

Unfortunately, the Police seem to have ignored the incidents in favour of providing security in Kampala ahead of the jubilee celebrations.

Police spokesperson, Judith Nabakooba, said she had not received any information from the team investigating the incidents.

Beata Chelimo, the Commandant of the Special Investigations Unit of the Police, declined to comment on the murders while the CID director, Grace Akullo, promised to get back to our reporters, but did not.

However, in Masaka, the mysterious murders have attracted the attention of the army commander, Gen. Aronda Nyakayirima.

New Vision learnt that Nyakirima met security officers in Masaka on Tuesday over the murders. After the meeting, he reportedly launched special investigations.

In one of the latest murder incidents in Masaka, a mother and her 14-year old son were beheaded in Kyesiga sub-county. The assailants are believed to have broken into the deceased’s house on Sunday night after burrowing a hole in the wall of the sitting room.

Family sources said after entering the house, they were seen by a little boy, Hakim Kato, who was grabbed and beheaded.

They added that after killing Kato, the assailants proceeded to his mother’s room and meted out the same treatment.

The two victims are part of the nine people in the district who have been murdered in the same way in a space of seven days.

Some of the victims were members of one family who included George William Senteza, his wife Rose Nakatte, and their children Joram Senoga, Emma Kigozi and Fiona Nalumansi.

The most affected areas in Masaka are Kyesiga and Kyanamukaka subcounties in Bukoto Central constituency, represented in Parliament by the Vice- President, Edward Ssekandi. Ssekandi reportedly attended the burial of the family that was killed on Tuesday.

Murders in Wakiso in Kakiri sub-sountry, Wakiso district, three people have been killed in a similar manner, within a month.

The mysterious murders have scared away residents and some of them have abandoned their homes.

New Vision learnt that others have started vigilante groups to protect residents.

However, there has been an increase in cases of mob justice in a bid to put an end to the silent killings.

“If you cannot identify yourself at night, you risk being lynched,” said one of the residents in Kakiri.

Sharon Nakyeyune, 21, Henry Mutebi, 23 and Livingstone Kalyango, 23, are the latest victims in the area. Unfortunately, no assailant has been arrested.

Early this year, two young men who owned a shop in Busabala in Wakiso were invaded at night by assailants who butchered them and took off with their money.

Similar cases in Mukono Two people were killed recently. Aida Nakiguli, 27, a resident of Butebe village in Mukono Central Division, was one of the victims.

The assailants attacked her at night and butchered her. Although Nakiguli had neighbours, they did not hear her scream during the attack.

The killer reportedly sprayed Chloroform in Nakiguli’s house before killing her. Her body was found the following day at midday, traced by blood which oozed through the door of her house.

One suspect, her former husband, was arrested and charged in connection with the murder.

A couple in Gulu Ward, Mukono Central Division was also killed in the same manner. The assailants broke into their house in the night and slaughtered them.

Police identified the deceased as Godfrey Ssekanyo and his girlfriend Irene Naggayi.

The body of Ssekanyo, who was a business man in St. Balikudembe market, was found by his colleague who had gone to pick him to go for work.

Ssekanyo’s body laid in cold blood next to his wife, who was in critical condition. She was rushed to a nearby hospital from where she succumbed to death from the deep wounds she sustained.

Four people were later arrested in connection with the murder. They have been charged with murder and remanded to Luzira Prison.