Angry mob members from Buhweju district have raided Rujumbura village in Ibanda District and burnt two people to death to avenge the death of James Natukunda, a popular cattle trader.
Samson Kasasira, the Rwizi Region Police Spokesperson identifies the mob victims as Jerethom Rubiriga 95 and Violet Bezire 87, both residents of Rujumbura cell in Ibanda district.
According to Kasasira, trouble started after 19-year-old Yoweri Kasasira, who is at large, went to Natukunda’s home in Buhweju district and tricked him that he was going to sell him a cow. Natukunda decided to follow Kasasira to Ibanda with Shillings 6million for buying the cow. He says that Natukunda went with his friend only identified as Katsigazi and the suspect to the farm where they found cows.
It is alleged that the suspect asked Katsigazi to call his parents from a nearby farm in the pretence that they had instructed him to look for the buyer. However, upon his return, Katsigazi could not trace the suspect and deceased.
The police spokesperson, says that while Katsigazi was still searching for his missing friend, a young man he identified as Sam Mushabe approached him and explained how he saw Kasasira dragging a dead body and fixing it on a stump before covering it with tree branches.
Mushabe led Katsigazi to the tree stump where he found Natukunda’s lifeless body lying in a pool of blood. He notified his relatives in the village who mobilized and raided Kasasira’s home where they found his grandparents in their house and torched it.
Fred Mutabazi, the LC I chairperson of LC 1 Ryakwera Village, says that he received the information that Natukunda had been killed in his village and that people were coming to avenge his death and reported the matter to police. He, however, says the mob members arrived before the police and wreaked havoc. Mutabazi says the duo’s bodies were burnt beyond recognition by the time police arrived.
He says that the Police Fire and Rescue team could not reach the scene because it is found in a mountainous area. According to Kasasira, they have launched a manhunt for the suspect and those behind the mob attack.
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