Police in Mbale City have arrested two youths, Isma Daudi, 22, and Yusuf Mwanika, 25, in connection with the murder of Aisha Namasaba, who was killed while attempting to intervene in a violent fight early Monday morning.
The incident occurred at a parking yard in Kisenyi Cell, Nabuyonga Ward, Northern Division.
Witnesses said Mwanika had been assaulting another person when bystanders, including Namasaba, stepped in.
The attacker allegedly turned on them, fatally striking Namasaba in the chest with a stone.
Staff at the site said the confrontation began when a customer arrived early to pick up his vehicle. A group of youths confronted the customer, and when the askari intervened, they ganged up on him.
Namasaba, the guard’s wife, rushed in to help her husband but was struck and collapsed. She was later pronounced dead.
In the aftermath, relatives of the deceased, joined by angry residents, took her body to Mwanika’s residence. The mob vandalized the property for more than three hours, tearing off the roof, windows, and doors in search of the suspect.
Police and the army later intervened with teargas to disperse the mob and rescued Mwanika and his alleged accomplice.
Both are now in custody as investigations continue.
Elgon Region Police Spokesperson Rogers Taitika confirmed that the body had been taken to Mbale City mortuary for postmortem examination.
Residents described Mwanika as a notorious repeat offender recently released from prison for similar crimes.
He is reportedly the only son of a wealthy civil servant and businesswoman and has repeatedly ignored warnings from his mother.
Local leader Issa Wamboya said this is the fourth person to be killed by Mwanika. He said Mwanika assaults people, snatches phones, and calls himself the commander of criminals while moving with a notorious gang.
Mbale City Assistant Resident Commissioner Hussein Gadimba condemned the crime, attributing such incidents to drug abuse and unruly tendencies among youth.