A joint team comprising the Police Crime Investigations Unit and Intelligence Officers of Uganda Peoples Defense Forces-UPDF is investigating a revenge attack that could have resulted in the death of a family of five people in Masaka.
Unknown people broke into the home of Emmanuel Muteesasira at Kijonjo village in Buwunga sub-county, Masaka district on Friday night, and hacked all five occupants including his wife and three grandchildren.
But residents are linking the incident to a longstanding dispute that Mutesaasira allegedly had with his nephew Vincent Ssamula.
Twaha Kasirye, the Greater Masaka Regional Police Spokesperson also confirms that their preliminary investigations have pointed to a revenge attack by the deceased’s foes that plotted to end his life.
He adds that the police have arrested Ssamula, who according to residents accused the deceased of committing witchcraft that allegedly claimed the life of his mother about a year ago.
According to Kasirye, the suspect is said to have warned his uncle of a possible attack as revenge for the alleged witchcraft claims. He however denied it after his arrest.
Meanwhile, Brigadier General Deus Sande, the Commander of the Kasijjagirwa UPDF Armoured Brigade says they have widened the scope of investigations beyond the dispute to allegations of witchcraft.
He says they are also studying the manner of execution of the murder and that their teams will study every detail of the gruesome incident.Â
Beatrice Nakintu, one of the relatives of the deceased told Uganda Radio Network that while at her home, about two weeks ago, she was approached by strange men who were riding on a motorcycle and asked for directions to the same home, suspecting that these could be the masterminds of the killings.