Residents of Kayirikitti Village in Nyendo Division, Masaka City, have been left in shock and fear following the murder of a woman whose body was discovered inside her rented room early Tuesday morning.
The deceased has been identified as Janiffer Nanyondo, who police say was allegedly killed by unknown assailants during the night.
According to neighbors, the discovery was made after residents noticed that the door to her room was open and blood stains were visible outside. Upon checking the room, they found Nanyondo dead.
David Wasajja, a neighbor, said the community is devastated by the incident and appealed to police to carry out thorough investigations.
“Although she had a mental health condition, she was harmless and never caused trouble to anyone. The family wants justice,” Wasajja said.
He also expressed concern about the increasing cases of theft and violent crime in the area, noting that residents now fear for their safety.
Police revealed that Nanyondo lived with another person in the same house, but that individual was not present at the time of the murder. Investigators say this forms part of their ongoing inquiries.
“She lived with her son, who works night shifts at a petrol station and usually returns home in the morning,” Wasajja added.
Police officers from Nyendo Division responded to the scene, cordoned off the area, and conducted forensic examinations with the help of a police sniffer dog. By press time, no arrests had been made.
The Nyendo Division Police Commander, John Kwesiga, confirmed the incident and said investigations are ongoing to establish the motive and identify those responsible.
“We urge the public not to interfere with crime scenes, as this can affect investigations. We assure residents that police will pursue all those involved and ensure they are held accountable,” Kwesiga said.
Kayirikitti Village Chairperson Ndawula Mutebi called for calm and urged residents to cooperate with security agencies.
Meanwhile, Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson Twaha Kasirye strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a heinous act, and assured the public that police are committed to bringing the perpetrators to justice.
Police have urged anyone with information related to the murder to report to the nearest police station.
The body of the deceased was taken to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination as investigations continue.
