Police in Hoima district have apprehended a man in his 30s suspected to be linked to a recent attack by assailants that resulted in the death of a woman and injuries to three others.
The suspect, identified as Sharif in his 20s, is a tenant at a trading center in the area. During the arrest, he was found in possession of Uganda army uniforms. The arrest is related to an incident last week when a group of assailants armed with pangas attacked Nyakairu village in Buraru sub-county, Hoima, leaving one woman dead and three others injured.
The victim, Mary Pasca, 32, was fatally hacked in the head, while Ntegeka Kusima, 18; Ronald Odaga, 21; and Harriet Mongeni, 17, sustained injuries. The assailants also robbed the victims of their belongings during the attack.
Police, accompanied by sniffer dogs, responded to the scene on Friday at 2:00 pm but faced challenges in tracking down the assailants. Subsequently, during an engagement with the community on Saturday, it was revealed that Sharif was not a known resident of the area.
Following this information, the Police arrested Sharif and conducted a search of his rental house. Inside, they discovered a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) uniform along with other dangerous materials, including machetes. This raised suspicions about the suspect’s potential connection to the attack, leading to his detention at Kitoba Rural Police Station.
In response to the escalating criminality in the area, the Police have decided to implement night patrols during the festive season. Hoima district councillor Patrick Rusoke expressed appreciation for the Police’s efforts and believes that the night patrols will contribute to restoring order in the community.
Rusoke attributed the rise in criminal activities to an influx of people in the area, particularly sugarcane cutters. He urged village leaders to register new residents and encouraged residents to promptly report unfamiliar individuals to the authorities.
