Police in the West Nile district of Obongi are investigating the brutal murder of a herdsman who was tied to a tree and beaten to death in a domestic dispute over a missing pig.
The deceased, identified as Frank Kagame, 28, was reportedly assaulted by a fellow herdsman from the same household in the early hours of Sunday in Andra Village, Ubbi Parish, Palorinya Sub-county.
According to preliminary police findings, the conflict stemmed from the sale of a pig belonging to Kagame’s father.
Kagame is said to have sold the pig two weeks earlier under his father’s instruction. However, upon returning from Kampala on June 20, the suspect—who cohabited with the victim and also kept pigs on the same property—accused Kagame of selling the animal without his consent.
“The suspect, upon returning home, questioned the deceased over the missing pig. Although the deceased explained that it had been sold with his father’s authorization, the suspect remained unconvinced,” said Superintendent of Police Collins Asea, spokesperson for the West Nile Region.
Police say the suspect, intoxicated, returned from Andra Trading Centre at around 2:00 a.m. on the night of the incident, forced his way into the house, dragged Kagame outside, tied him to a tree, and beat him severely using sticks.
“After the assault, the deceased managed to crawl back into the house in pain. His siblings found him lifeless the following morning,” SP Asea added.
Crime scene officers and homicide detectives from Obongi Central Police Station recovered several exhibits from the scene, including two sticks, a rope, a pair of trousers with blood stains, and a bloodied mosquito net believed to have been used during the attack.
Two suspects are currently in custody as investigations continue. Kagame’s body was taken to Moyo General Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
“We condemn this act of brutality and urge members of the public to seek peaceful ways of resolving disputes,” SP Asea said. “Investigations are ongoing to ensure justice is served.”
The case is registered under CRB: 164/2025 at Obongi Central Police Station.