At least 55 people died under different circumstances in three days before , during and immediately after Christmas in Uganda, police have said.
Giving a report of the Christmas period, Police spokesperson, Kituuma Rusoke said the 55 died between December, 24 and 26 .
Among the incidents, police said 12 were victims of assault, three hacked to death, two drowned, two lynched and seven hit using blunt objects.
“Six victims were stabbed to death, five committed suicide, two strangled to death, eight were victims of suspected sudden death, four died because of rush and negligent acts, there was one case of food poisoning, a case of suspected arson while two people were murdered but we haven’t yet traced the particular cause,” Rusoke said.
He explained that the 55 deaths were as a result of 91 cases reported, a reduction from the 110 registered previously during the same period in 2023.
The police spokesperson said during the same period, 19 suspects were apprehended.
Among the incidents, the police spokesperson said they registered a death occurring out of kidnap for ransom.
Rusoke explained that the incident of kidnap which had earlier happened in Kyegegwa involving a four-year-old victim escalated into death.
He said that the toddler’s mother later received a call from kidnappers who demanded a shs15 million ransom, prompting her to report the matter to police.
Security would later use its intelligence capabilities to track and arrest Ivan Natukunda on December 24.
“Natukunda would later during interrogation provide information that the four-year-old baby had been murdered but also led us to the prime suspect, Robert Rwabajungu also known as Kadeyideyi. Both suspects are in our custody,” Rusoke said.
The police spokesperson said despite the incidents, the Christmas period was largely peaceful throughout the country.
