Five suspects recently arrested by police in connection with a string of brutal murders targeting coffee traders in Lwengo District have confessed to the crimes and led investigators to the exact locations where the killings were carried out.
The suspects, identified as Paul Kiyimba, Moses Kanyankole, Umar Ssempijja, Simon Ssenyonga, and Muhammad Ssendawula, were apprehended by police from Nyendo in Masaka City. Authorities believe the group is responsible for a series of killings that have terrorized coffee traders in Lwengo over recent months.
According to police, the suspects admitted to murdering several traders, including George William Bifaaki, a prominent coffee dealer who was killed last year and robbed of 50 sacks of coffee.
During a reconstruction exercise, the suspects guided heavily armed police officers to Bifaaki’s home in Kinene village, Kiseka sub-county, where they demonstrated how the attack was executed.
“We arrived at around 8:00 pm and hid in the coffee plantation. When the children saw us, we asked for their father, but they said he was not home. We pretended to leave but waited nearby until he returned,” confessed Paul Kiyimba.
“When he came back, we locked the children inside the kitchen and entered the house. We found Bifaaki seated in the living room with his wife. I grabbed him while Kanyankole restrained the wife. We tied her up and then started cutting Bifaaki until he died.”
Kiyimba further alleged that after killing Bifaaki, his accomplice Moses Kanyankole sexually assaulted the victim’s wife beside her husband’s body. However, Kanyankole denied the accusation.
The suspects reportedly revealed that their modus operandi involved tying up victims with ropes before strangling or hacking them to death. They stated that they had been carrying out these crimes for some time, primarily targeting coffee traders for financial gain.
Residents who gathered during the reenactment, including local council chairman Sizza Kimbugwe, expressed anger and demanded harsh punishment for the suspects. Many called for justice equivalent to the suffering inflicted on the victims.
“They killed our people in a cruel way. They also deserve a similar fate,” residents said.
Patricia Nabiryo, the widow of the late Bifaaki, spoke of the trauma she has endured since her husband’s death. She said she has faced accusations from community members who suspected her involvement in the murder.
“It has been very painful. People have been accusing me of having a hand in my husband’s death. I ask the police to carry out thorough investigations and clear my name,” she said.
The arrests have left the community in shock, particularly because the suspects are reportedly natives of the area. Residents have urged authorities to ensure justice is served swiftly.
Julius Musaazi, who is leading the ongoing operation, said police are still compiling evidence and will release a full report once investigations are complete. He thanked residents for their cooperation and urged them not to take the law into their own hands.
“We are continuing with investigations, and more operations are ongoing. We appeal to the public to remain calm and allow the law to take its course,” Musaazi said.
Lwengo District has in recent months recorded a surge in violent crimes, particularly targeting coffee traders. Among the victims is Joram Kalemire, 48, a resident of Kengwe village in Kyazanga sub-county, who was killed earlier this year under similar circumstances.
Authorities say efforts are underway to dismantle criminal networks behind these targeted killings and restore security in the region.