A 30-year-old bar proprietor was killed in a late-night altercation in Lugongwe Trading Centre, Kijuna Subcounty, Kassanda District. Authorities say the incident may have been triggered by a domestic dispute.
Ivan Ahimbisibwe, who owned E-Zone Bar and Lodges, was reportedly attacked in the early hours of Tuesday morning after a confrontation with a man identified as Murundi Fabrice, who had visited the bar with his girlfriend, Namukisa Pofia.
Eyewitnesses said the incident began around 1:00 a.m. when Fabrice and Pofia entered the bar. Ahimbisibwe served the woman a bottle of Pilsner beer, which reportedly angered her boyfriend.
“The man appeared uncomfortable when the lady was offered a drink. He grabbed her and stormed out of the bar,” one witness said.
Ahimbisibwe followed the couple outside, leading to a physical fight between the two men, while the woman reportedly left the scene. Bar attendants grew concerned when their employer did not return and later found his body in a nearby bush with multiple deep cuts to the face.
SSP Lameck Kigozi, Wamala Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said the police were alerted by a resident, Senyonjo Isaiah.
“Upon receiving the information, the District Police Commander of Kassanda dispatched a homicide team to the scene. Two suspects have since been arrested to assist with investigations,” he said.
Fabrice was apprehended at a local clinic where he had sought treatment for injuries sustained during the fight, while Pofia was arrested at her residence in Lugongwe Town.
Ahimbisibwe’s body was taken to Kassanda Health Centre IV for a postmortem examination.
Police have urged the public to resolve disputes peacefully, warning that confrontations fueled by anger can quickly escalate into fatal outcomes.