A local businessman in his 40s was found brutally murdered on Sunday morning in what residents suspect to be a politically motivated killing in Rubanda District.
The deceased, identified as Edison Orikiriza Ntuguta, was discovered lying in a pool of blood at approximately 7:00 a.m. along the Kachwekano–Kagarama Road, near the boundary separating Rwengwe, Hamurambi, and Kitogota villages in Kagarama Ward, Hamuhambo Town Council.
According to Aggrey Bandebaho, LC3 Chairperson of Hamuhambo Sub-county, Orikiriza had multiple deep cuts to the head and chest. His body was reportedly dragged about 80 meters before being dumped by the roadside.
“He was attacked between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. while on his way to buy Muramba (local brew) for his business,” Bandebaho said.
The assailants allegedly stripped the deceased and left his body naked, a move Bandebaho believes was intended to distort evidence.
Bandebaho further alleged that the killing may be linked to political tensions stemming from recent NRM party primaries involving former Rubanda District LC5 Chairperson Kenneth Jogo Biryabarema and State Minister for Finance (General Duties) Henry Ariganyira Musasizi.
“On Saturday, some individuals threatened to ‘teach Orikiriza a lesson’ if he continued supporting Jogo,” Bandebaho claimed.
Dickson Tugume, the NRM LC2 Chairperson and an uncle to the deceased, echoed the political angle, stating that on Saturday, a group had issued threats to kill Orikiriza and five others aligned with Jogo.
Owen Ahumuza, a concerned resident, urged security agencies to urgently investigate not only the murder but also the wave of threats being issued to political supporters. He revealed that he too received threats on Saturday from individuals accusing him of backing Jogo.
The Officer-in-Charge of Rubanda Police Station, Melch Ahimbisibwe, criticized residents for tampering with the crime scene.
“Covering the body with a cloth interfered with our efforts to use a sniffer dog to track the killers,” Ahimbisibwe said.
He called on residents to come forward with any information that could lead to arrests. However, he declined to comment on allegations that some locals are receiving death threats.
