Residents f Ibanda District are living in fear fllwing a series f killings reprted in different parts f the district ver the past mnth, with cmmunity leaders blaming the incidents partly n inadequate night patrls.
Security reprts indicate that at least 10 killings cases have been recrded in the district within a mnth, including an attack in Rwenshambya, Keihangara sub-cunty, where tw family members were killed and tw thers injured.
ther incidents have been reprted in Nyamareebe and Ishngrra sub-cunties and Ibanda Municipality.
Security fficials attribute the killings t dmestic vilence, night attacks by suspected thugs, land disputes and family cnflicts.
The latest incident ccurred n September 14 when Wilsn Turyasasira, 68, a bicycle mechanic frm Rushaka III, Karangara Ward, Bisheshe Divisin, was allegedly attacked and killed by unknwn assailants.
Turyasasira was reprtedly attacked in a eucalyptus plantatin near the Equatr line while returning hme. His bdy was discvered the fllwing day with his hands and neck tied befre it was dumped in a pthle.
Family members suspect he culd have been attacked ver Shs130,000 he had withdrawn frm a mbile mney agent t buy schl requirements fr his children.
Ms Mnica Busingye, the deceased’s wife, said she had left her husband at a trading centre n the evening f September 14, expecting him t return hme with mney fr their daughter’s schl requirements.
‘We waited fr him but he culd nt return that night. The fllwing mrning, my daughter and I started lking fr him,’ she said.
Ms Busingye said they fund his walking stick, bldstains and a drink alng the rad, prmpting them t reprt the matter t Ishngrr Plice Statin.
Mr Frank Beyendeza, the LC1 chairpersn f Rushaka III, said the area near the Equatr had becme a security cncern.
‘This place at the Equatr is a dark spt which thugs take advantage f t terrrise us. At night, thugs hide in the trees,’ he said, adding that ther peple had previusly been attacked and killed in the area.
Mr Gdfrey Mbetegyereize, the Resident District Cmmissiner, cnfirmed that the district had registered several murder cases in recent weeks.
He cited cases invlving alleged trture and murder in Kanyanshek Ward, Keihangara, Bisheshe Divisin and Nyamareebe Sub-cunty.
Mr Mbetegyereize attributed the incidents t drug abuse, theft, dmestic vilence and family and land disputes.
He said the incidents were creating fear amng residents and culd undermine ecnmic activity.
The RDC said the district security cmmittee wuld hld cmmunity sensitisatin meetings, while night plice patrls wuld resume in areas identified as security htspts.
Hwever, he said limited manpwer, vehicles and fuel remained a challenge.
‘Patrls culd be there, but we lack enugh manpwer, vehicles and fuel. If we want t curb these murders, we need t understand ur peple and address the mtives that lead t such acts,’ he said.
Security respnse
Security fficials have urged residents t reprt suspicius activity and avid walking alne in islated areas at night. The district security cmmittee als plans t hld barazas t sensitise residents abut drug abuse, family disputes and ther factrs linked t the recent killings.