Security has been heightened in Lwengo District following the arrest and public identification of five suspects linked to a series of brutal killings that have left communities in shock.
Police in Lwengo, working with officers from Nyendo–Masaka, escorted the suspects to various villages where the alleged crimes took place as part of a crime scene reconstruction exercise. The exercise attracted large crowds, particularly in Kikenene Village, where residents gathered seeking answers and closure over the deaths of their relatives.
The suspects, identified as Paul Kiyimba, Moses Kanyankole, Umar Ssempijja, Simon Ssenyonga, and another accomplice, have been in police custody as investigations continue. Authorities say the group has confessed to involvement in multiple murder cases across the district.
According to police, the suspects admitted to luring victims before restraining them with ropes and killing them. They also reportedly led investigators to several crime scenes and demonstrated how the crimes were committed.
One of the suspects is said to have revealed that the group had been operating for an extended period and, in some cases, targeted victims alongside their spouses, including instances of assault before or after the killings.
Among the cases under investigation is the murder of coffee trader George William Bifaaki. Police say the suspects led officers to his home, where they allegedly attacked and killed him.
Masaka regional police spokesperson Twaha Kasirye confirmed that investigations are ongoing, adding that more suspects could still be arrested.
“We are continuing with operations to ensure that everyone involved in these murders is brought to justice,” Kasirye said. “Residents can begin to feel some level of safety as some of the suspects are now in custody.”
However, tensions rose during the reconstruction exercise as some residents, alongside local leaders including Kikenene Village Chairperson Sizza Kimbugwe, demanded that the suspects be handed over for mob justice.
Security officials, led by Julius Musaazi, urged restraint and called for due process to be followed.
“We understand the anger in the community, but we urge residents not to take the law into their own hands. Let the justice system handle these suspects as investigations continue,” Musaazi said.
The widow of the slain trader, Patricia Nabiryo , described the emotional trauma her family endured following her husband’s death.
“These people caused unimaginable suffering to my family,” she said. “They killed my husband and humiliated me in front of his body. I am relieved that they have been arrested because some people had begun to suspect me.”
Police say investigations are ongoing and a comprehensive report will be released once inquiries are complete. Security operations have been intensified across the wider Masaka sub-region, where authorities have reported a rise in violent crimes targeting coffee traders.
Residents have been urged to remain vigilant and cooperate with security agencies as efforts continue to restore calm in the area.