51 year old killed in Ssembabule land dispute

Tragedy struck the Lwamwende B village in Mateete sub-county, Sembabule district, when a land dispute spiraled into violence, resulting in the  murder of a 51-year-old man.

According to reports from Sembabule Central Police Station under CRB 210/2024, the incident occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. on October 19, 2024.

The victim, identified as Yusufu Sseremba, a 51-year-old peasant and resident of Lwamwende B, Mateete sub-county, was fatally attacked by a man identified as Abel Katuugo, 55, also a resident of the same village.

The conflict allegedly began earlier that morning when residents of Lwamwende B, Bbale and Namuddu, called upon local leaders, including the deceased, to mediate a long-standing land boundary dispute with the suspect, Katuugo.

According to police, at around 7:00 a.m., the local leaders arrived at the disputed site and found that the issue had seemingly been resolved.

With no immediate cause for further action, they decided to leave the area, believing that peace had been restored.

However, Katuugo was reportedly dissatisfied with the outcome.

Feeling aggrieved, he proceeded to Mateete Police Station to report an alleged assault by the local leaders during the intervention.

Police issued him a PF3 form for medical examination as part of the procedure.

Rather than complying with the police directive, Katuugo returned to the scene of the dispute armed with a hoe and in a  turn of events, he attacked Seremba, delivering a fatal blow.

It is reported that witnesses rushed the victim to Bamu's Hospital in Mateete, but despite their efforts, Seremba succumbed to his injuries.

"Sembabule police, led by ASP Mudhebo, the Officer in Charge of Mateete Station, and the district Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO), responded to the incident. The crime scene was examined, and the murder weapon—a hoe—was recovered as evidence. Seremba’s body was also examined, and the investigation has been documented under PF 48C," Twaha Kasirye the regional police spokesperson revealed.

Authorities have launched a manhunt for the suspect, Abel Katuugo, who fled the scene following the attack.

The shocking incident has left the Lwamwende B community in grief, raising tensions in the area as land disputes remain a significant source of conflict in rural Uganda.

Police are urging the community to remain calm as they continue their investigations.