Investigations into the brutal murder of a couple in Kyegegwa District took a dramatic turn after a police operation to arrest suspected killers ended in clashes with residents, leaving one civilian dead and a murder suspect critically injured. The victims, identified as Ismail Alituha and his wife Aisha Nasoro, were allegedly murdered in their home in Muhangi Village, Kabweza Parish, Kyegegwa Sub-county on Saturday night.
Residents discovered the bodies on Sunday morning with their hands and legs tied and multiple cut wounds, prompting police to launch investigations. According to the Uganda Police Force, a police canine unit tracked the suspected killers to a home in the same village, where three people were found digging in a garden and arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murders.
Rwenzori West Regional Police spokesperson Vincent Twesige said the situation turned chaotic as officers attempted to evacuate the suspects after an angry crowd surrounded them, demanding that the suspects be handed over for mob justice. Twesige said police fired warning shots in an attempt to disperse the crowd. During the confrontation, a bullet struck Emmanuel Tumuhairwe, a resident who was rushed to Kyegegwa General Hospital but later died.
He added that one of the murder suspects was critically injured after being attacked by the crowd and is receiving treatment at Kyegegwa General Hospital, while the other two suspects remain in police custody. Police declined to disclose the identities of the suspects, saying doing so could compromise ongoing investigations.
Twesige condemned the attempted mob justice, urging residents to allow the law to take its course instead of taking matters into their own hands. He said investigations are ongoing to establish the motive behind the killing of the couple.
Moses Bikorwa, a neighbour of the deceased, said he received a telephone call at about 8:00 a.m. on Sunday informing him of the killings. “When we reached the home, we found both of them dead. Their hands and legs had been tied, and there was blood all over their bodies,” he said.
Bikorwa said the arrests sparked protests by some residents, leading to the confrontation between the crowd and police. Another resident, Peter Kusemererwa, criticised the use of firearms during the incident, saying police are mandated to maintain law and order. He also linked the increasing crime in the area to unemployment, arguing that economic hardship is driving some people into criminal activity.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over violent crime in Kyegegwa District. According to the Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025, the district recorded 67 homicide cases, the highest number reported by any district in the country that year-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
