City of Fear: Hoima Residents Terrorized by Machete Wielding Goons

(Hoima City) – Hoima residents are left wondering if the city is auditioning for a horror movie with machete wielding thugs starring as the villains. With thugs popping out of bushes like uninvited guests at a wedding, it seems Hoima has become the wild west of Uganda, where going home after 11 pm is a game of survival.

The quiet streets of Bujumbura cell in Hoima’s west division are no longer the peaceful pathways they used to be. It appears the local thugs, tired of petty theft, have taken up machete wielding as a new hobby. Residents woke up to the horrifying news that Simon Peter Atuhura, a 22 year old resident, had been brutally hacked to death by suspected machete wielding goons on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, at around 11:30 p.m.

For Atuhura and his brother Conrad Kwikiriza, it was supposed to be a regular night stroll home, but Hoima’s nighttime marauders had other plans. The duo was attacked near the Bujumbura Catholic Diocese cemetery — because, apparently, even the dead aren’t safe in this part of town.

According to Emmanuel Kaahwa, the Local Council (LC1) chairperson, the attack was nothing short of brutal. As the brothers reached the cemetery, three thugs, likely inspired by a strange mix of horror films and desperation, jumped out of a nearby bush like unexpected suitors at a traditional kwanjula. But these weren’t your average opportunists. They reportedly slashed Atuhura multiple times — on the head, neck, and stomach — leaving him unconscious in a pool of blood.

It appears these goons thought they were auditioning for the role of “Butcher” in a local play. But instead of a stage and applause, they were met with an alarm raised by the victims, calling the residents to the scene. By the time the good Samaritans rushed the brothers to Hoima Regional Referral Hospital, Atuhura had succumbed to his injuries, leaving Hoima with yet another reminder that nighttime strolls are best reserved for the brave — or the foolish.

The Albertine police region spokesperson, Julius Hakiza, confirmed that one suspect, Justus Asiimwe, has been arrested to help the police with investigations. Asiimwe, a resident of Kaibalya cell, might not have fully understood that his “night job” would land him in the spotlight so soon. He’s currently cooling his heels in Hoima City Central Police Station as detectives search for his machete loving accomplices.

The streets of Hoima are starting to feel like one of those Ugandan action movies where the hero is always too late, and the thugs always get away. The residents are fed up. John Byaruhanga, a resident of Bujumbura East cell, has voiced the frustration of many, saying there is an urgent need for security agencies to tackle the rising crime in the city. From house break ins to late night machete attacks, criminals have decided to make Hoima their playground.

Residents of Hoima are now walking with one eye over their shoulder and one hand clutching their phones tightly. Housebreaking, snatching bags, and phones have become the new sport for criminals in a twisted form of Olympics where only the fastest or sneakiest survive.

A City in Fear

The nights in this city are no longer safe. Whether it’s machete wielding goons or regular pickpockets, the residents now live in constant fear of when the next attack will come. Unless something is done, Hoima could soon be known more for its crime rates than anything else.