Police in the Rwizi Region have arrested a taxi driver in connection with the suspected murder of his colleague, whose dismembered body was recovered from River Rwizi after he had been missing for more than three weeks.
The deceased, identified as Basajja Majidu, was a resident of Nyakizi Village in Kakooba Division, Mbarara City South. He operated a taxi on the busy Mbarara–Rukungiri route before his sudden disappearance, which sparked concern among family members, fellow drivers, and local leaders.
According to police, Majidu was reported missing several weeks ago, prompting a joint search effort involving relatives, taxi operators, and security agencies. The search took a tragic turn when parts of his body were later discovered in River Rwizi.
Investigations led detectives to arrest Ali Mbaziira, a fellow taxi driver, who is now being held as the prime suspect in the case. Police say inquiries are ongoing to establish the circumstances surrounding the killing and whether other individuals may have been involved.
The chairman of taxi drivers operating along the Mbarara–Rukungiri–Kanungu route described the incident as shocking and disturbing. He revealed that the victim was allegedly killed in a gruesome manner, noting that some body parts, including the head and abdomen, had not yet been recovered.
Sources within the transport fraternity further claimed that Majidu’s death may have occurred shortly after he sold a plot of land in Rukungiri Town for UGX 30 million, raising suspicions that the crime could have been motivated by financial gain.
The murder has sent shockwaves through the taxi community in western Uganda, with drivers calling for a thorough investigation and swift justice for their colleague.
Police have appealed to members of the public with information that could assist investigations to come forward as efforts continue to uncover the full circumstances surrounding Majidu’s death.
