Police in Kitagwenda District are investigating the murder of an 18-year-old student whose body was discovered in a coffee plantation with multiple cut wounds. The deceased, identified as Onesmus Arinda, a Senior Four student at Kitagwenda High School, was found dead on Sunday afternoon in Kicheche Cell, Kagazi Ward, Kabujogera Town Council.
According to a police statement released by Vincent Twesige, the Rwenzori West Regional Police Spokesperson, the body was discovered at around 1 pm in a coffee plantation belonging to Sperio Taremwa, a resident of the same area. The deceased had sustained multiple cut wounds on the head, arms, and legs.Scovia Owembabazi, a resident of the area, told URN that she discovered the body while she had gone to the plantation to pick vegetables. She said that upon seeing the body, she raised an alarm that attracted neighbours, who gathered at the scene but could not immediately identify the deceased.
Jolly Kebirungi, another resident, said as residents tried to establish the identity of the deceased, some students from Kitagwenda High School arrived and identified him as their fellow student. “Students became emotional after learning about the death of their colleague, and some of them moved into nearby gardens, destroyed banana and coffee plantations, and burnt our house,” Kebirungi said.
Emmanuel Ntamushobora, an uncle to the deceased, said the family first learnt about Arinda’s death through messages circulated on WhatsApp. “We received messages that our child had been murdered and that his body was at Ntara Health Centre IV mortuary. We went to the hospital on Sunday to confirm whether it was him, and indeed it was him,” Ntamushora told URN.
He said the family wants an explanation from the school administration on how a student enrolled in the boarding section ended up outside the school premises at night. According to police spokesperson Vincent Twesige, police have arrested two people to assist with investigations. The suspects have been identified as Robert Shabomujuni Robert and Sperio Taremwa. Efforts to obtain a comment from the school administration were unsuccessful after head teacher Simon Ahimbisibwe declined to comment on the matter-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
