Police in Kyankwanzi District have launched a manhunt for a suspect accused of violently attacking and robbing a charcoal trader in a late-night incident in a forested area of the district.
The suspect, identified as Maganda Isaac, a resident of Lubiri Village in Kyankwanzi Sub-county, is currently on the run after allegedly assaulting a businesswoman dealing in charcoal and stealing an unspecified amount of money.
According to the Uganda Police Force spokesperson for Wamala Region, Lameck Kigozi, the incident occurred on March 14 at around midnight in Ranch Number 5 located in Kyankwanzi Sub-county. The victim had reportedly travelled to the area to pay workers involved in charcoal burning.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect had earlier acted as a broker, linking the victim to forest owners where trees were being cut for charcoal production.
Police say the suspect later offered to escort the woman through the forest after she finished paying the workers. However, during the journey, he allegedly turned against her and attacked her with a sharp object before robbing her of the money she was carrying.
“The suspect reportedly pretended to guide the victim through the forest but later turned violent, severely injuring her before robbing her of the money,” Kigozi said.
The injured businesswoman was later rescued by a Good Samaritan who found her in critical condition and rushed her to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital for treatment.
The matter was reported to police at Bukwiri Police Station, prompting security agencies to launch a search operation for the suspect.
Kigozi said Maganda Isaac is not new to police records and had previously been implicated in a goat theft case, for which he is currently out on bail.
“The suspect has a known criminal history and is currently on bail for another case. Our teams are actively searching for him and we urge the public to assist with any information that may lead to his arrest,” he said.
Police have appealed to residents of Kyankwanzi and surrounding areas to remain vigilant and report any information regarding the suspect’s whereabouts to the nearest police station.
Authorities believe public cooperation will be crucial in helping law enforcement track down the suspect and ensure he faces justice.
