The remains of a missing man have been identified through a bunch of keys recovered from a decomposing body found in River Rwabakazi in Kabale District. Anthony Twesigye, a 23-year-old casual laborer, had been missing for days, and the disfigured state of the body posed challenges in identification.
The discovery took place on January 2, 2024, when a cattle keeper, known as Pasikale, alerted the Kabale Police about a body floating in the river. After retrieval, the body was taken to Kabale Hospital, where it began to decompose, making it difficult for potential identifiers.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi region Police spokesman, shared that despite numerous attempts by people to identify the body at the mortuary, it remained unclaimed. The breakthrough came when relatives of the missing Twesigye, led by Silva Owomugisha, reported the case on January 7, 2023, suspecting that he might have been arrested for a crime.
Upon arriving at the mortuary, the family faced challenges recognizing the deceased until a bunch of keys was retrieved from the pocket of the deceased. Owomugisha, Twesigye’s uncle, was able to identify the keys and, together with the Police, went to the deceased’s house. Remarkably, the keys successfully opened all the doors in the house, confirming the identification.
Maate provided details about Twesigye’s disappearance, stating that he went missing on December 28, 2023, after speaking to his uncle. Despite numerous attempts to reach him on the phone, Twesigye remained unreachable. Concerned, Owomugisha traveled from Rukungiri to check on him, finding the house locked. Subsequently, he reported the matter to the Police.
To further solidify the identification, Owomugisha was shown photographs taken by the Police of the body immediately after retrieval. Recognizing the clothes, he was able to confirm Twesigye’s identity.
The Police handed over the body to the grieving family for burial, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding Twesigye’s death remain ongoing.
