Iron bar hitmen kill 3 in Mukono

By Henry Nsubuga

Three people have died in Mukono district in a space of three weeks after being hit with iron bars while other six victims are nursing wounds at different health facilities.

The deceased include; Julius Twesigye, Geoffrey Musaazi and John Andrew Otim. Twesigye was hit from Namilyango village in Goma division whereas Musaazi a bodaboda rider from Katosi stage in Ntenjeru sub-county was hit at night and his bodaboda was taken.

Otim who was a first year law student was hit on his way back to the hostel at Kirowooza village near the university.

The survivors are; Benon Mataza and John Kabenge who are bodaboda riders at Kyetume stage in Nakisunga sub-county plus Sam Kalule who is also a cyclist at Bishop stage in Mukono Central Division.

Others include; Hajji Musa Muliika the chairman Beach Management Unit at Katosi landing site, Peter Nkuyege a resident of Butebe village in Mukono Central division and Jacqueline Namwanje who resides at Kisoga village in Nakisunga sub-county.

Mataza was hit on a Monday afternoon at Ddandira village by unknown assailants who later robed his bodaboda.

Fortunately, the residents rescued him earlier after learning about the incident and rushed him to Kyetume Community Health Care where he was attended to. Bodaboda riders at Kyetume stage managed to impound the bodaboda with an unidentified man who was later beaten to death at Luwule village on Wantoni-Katosi road.     

Kabenge, who was discharged from the hospital on Sunday with wounds on the eye and head, said he was hit at Ddandira village and his motor cycle Boxer registration number UDY 420X was taken.

Kabenge said that he was discharged but still have severe headache he added that he was hired by a man and a woman at around 8:00pm and when we reached their destination at Ddandira, the man asked the woman to pay him.

“The man pretended as if he was urinating and from there, he just came with an iron bar and hit me before they disappeared with my bodaboda,” said Kabenge.

Kalule said he was hired from Good Quality Supermarket in Mukono town at 7:30pm and asked by two men to take them to Ntaawo village.

“They hit me immediately as we reached Ntaawo playground. I was only saved by the security guards who heard me screaming. I was rushed to Nsambya hospital in a critical condition. Thank God I can talk again,” said Kalule.  
 
Last week, the Police chief Lt. Gen. Kale Kayihura held a security meeting with the district security leadership at Uganda Christian University together with its leaders to forge a way forward following the death of their students.

Kayihura advised Police heads in Mukono district to put more emphasis in patrolling the dark corners. Kayihura asked the community to be more security conscious adding that even though Police is concerned about their security but it will not be able to reach their homes.

The officer in charge of crime in Mukono district Henry Mugumya blamed the rider's trend of mob justice saying they are supposed to hand over any one they suspect and arrest committing crime to police for investigations.

Mugumya said that, as Police they arrest the suspected thieves and residents refuse to go and testify against them in court. Mugumya added that at the end these criminals are released and again residents complain.