MBARARA – A mysterious disappearance of a taxi driver in Mbarara has turned into one of the most shocking murder investigations in the region after police arrested his close friend, who allegedly confessed to killing and dismembering him before dumping his remains in River Rwizi.
The victim, Majidu Basajja, a 45-year-old taxi driver who operated along the Mbarara-Rukungiri-Kanungu route, disappeared shortly after selling a plot of land in Rukungiri Town for Shs30 million.
Basajja was known by fellow taxi operators as a hardworking and dependable driver who rarely missed work. His colleagues said his sudden disappearance was unusual because he was always available and his phone remained active throughout the day.
According to Dan Maganda, the chairperson of taxi drivers operating on the Mbarara-Rukungiri-Kanungu routes, Basajja’s phones went off shortly after he completed the land sale, raising concern among his colleagues.
“He vanished. His taxi seat remained empty, and days passed without a trace,” Maganda said.
Initially, family members hoped he would return, believing he could have travelled unexpectedly or experienced a problem with his phone. However, as days turned into weeks, relatives and friends began searching hospitals, police stations and different trading centres for answers.
Fellow taxi drivers also joined the search, asking questions wherever they went, but after three weeks, the search ended with devastating news.
Police recovered what they identified as Basajja’s lower limbs from River Rwizi on June 3, turning the missing person case into a murder investigation.
The recovered remains were taken for examination and later buried in Rukungiri District on June 4, while other body parts, including the head and abdomen, remain missing.
Police investigations later led to the arrest of Ali Mbaziira, a fellow taxi driver and a person described by relatives as a close friend of the deceased.
Investigators believe Basajja’s recent land sale could have played a role in the killing, although the exact motive remains under investigation.
Police said Basajja’s wife informed them that her husband left home with Mbaziira before he disappeared.
A close friend, Christmas Eriabu, told police that when he asked about Basajja’s whereabouts, the wife explained that he had travelled with Mbaziira, who later returned alone and acted as though he did not know what had happened.
Based on the information gathered, police arrested Mbaziira in Ntungamo District and transferred him to Mbarara Regional Police headquarters for questioning.
During interrogation, detectives say Mbaziira confessed to killing his friend and described how he allegedly disposed of the body.
A detective involved in the investigations said Mbaziira narrated that he cut Basajja’s body into three parts before dumping the remains into River Rwizi.
“The head, clothes and the panga he used to hack him were put in one sack. The chest, hands and stomach were put in another sack, while the lower limbs, including the legs, were placed in another sack. He said he dumped all of them into River Rwizi,” the detective said.
Following the confession, police recovered the lower limbs from the river, but the search for the remaining body parts continues.
Rwizi Regional Police Spokesperson Samson Kasasira confirmed that investigations were still ongoing, saying other suspects linked to the murder were being pursued.
Kasasira said the key suspect was earlier seen in Ntungamo Town driving a motor vehicle, registration number UAW 562C Super Custom, which belonged to the deceased.
He explained that Basajja and Mbaziira were friends who operated taxis and were also involved in vehicle brokerage.
“On May 9, when he went missing, the suspect was in the company of the deceased as they travelled to Kabale District and later Mbarara City,” Kasasira said.
According to police, Mbaziira allegedly claimed that he killed Basajja after accusing him of failing to account for Shs30 million that was reportedly meant for purchasing a drone taxi.
Police are also searching for two other suspects identified as Valence Mugisha and another person only known as Black, both residents of Ruti Ward in Mbarara City.
The gruesome murder comes amid growing concern over violent crime in Uganda, despite a general decline in overall crime cases.
The Uganda Police Force Annual Crime Report 2025 shows that reported crime reduced by 10.2 per cent, but homicide cases increased from 4,248 deaths in 2024 to 4,329 deaths in 2025.
The report indicates that an average of about 12 people are murdered every day across the country, highlighting the continued challenge of tackling violent crime.
As police continue investigations into Basajja’s death, his family and colleagues are still waiting for the recovery of the remaining body parts and justice for a life that was brutally cut short.
Credit: New Vision
