Thugs kill five, injure 12 in Bukomansimbi and Lwengo

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The incidents happened between midnight and 2am as Ugandans were celebrating the New Year.

Unknown assailants armed with guns, pangas and clubs moved from village to village robbing and hacking people.

The attacked villages are Kiryasaaka located in Kkingo Sub County in Lwengo district, Kisojjo, Kyabagoma and Kyamabaale in Kibinge Sub County in Bukomansimbi district.

Those killed are identified as Denis Ssebugwawo Lumala, a retired police officer who was hacked several times on the head.

Others are Jane Nantale, John Sseremba and Gonzaga Kayemba and another unidentified man. All these were killed in Kisojjo, Kyabagoma and Kiryasaaka. All these villages are neighbouring each other.

Ssebugwawo's daughter, 15-year-old Nancy Nambuya, is admitted at Masaka regional referral hospital with head injuries.

Dick Muwanga, the Kkingo LC3 Chairman who rushed to Kiryasaaka trading centre, said at least seven homes were attacked in this area leaving several injured.

Muwanga noted that the thugs exploited the New Year celebrations when people were making all sorts of noise.

He said it was very difficult for the rescue mission because even those that called for help could not get it since all people were in celebrations.

At Kisojjo village where Denis Ssebugwawo Lumala, a retired police officer was killed, the whole community is in shock.

His wife Hadijja Nakanwagi said the thugs gained entry into their house using the backdoor. She said they hit the door open with a huge stone and entered.

She, however said they demanded for more money but her husband told them that the money had been paid to one herdsman to buy a cow for their upcoming family function.

According to Nakanwagi, the thugs became very bitter and they hacked Ssebugwawo on the head.

Isaac Lwanga, a district councillor blamed the insecurity on lack of police presence in the area. He said most of these areas have no police despite the fact that they have a big population with some trading centres.

Mukasa Kityo, the Bukomansimbi Resident District Commissioner (RDC), says police have started hunting for the attackers.

This attack is just one of the numerous unresolved killings that have rocked the region for several months now.

Last year, at least 30 people were killed in similar circumstances and up to 50 others were hospitalized in Lwengo, Rakai, Kalungu and Masaka districts.

Police arrested over 100 suspects in connection with these murders although no one has been prosecuted.

Lameck Kigozi, the greater Masaka regional police spokesperson said the police is still investigating the killings.