Shock and fear have gripped residents of Mutai Village along the Jinja-Kamuli Highway following the gruesome murder of an unidentified man suspected to be a police officer.
The deceased was discovered lying lifeless by the roadside early Friday morning by residents heading to their gardens at dawn. The victim was found in a pool of blood with a shattered helmet nearby, drawing panic and large crowds to the scene.
Preliminary police investigations indicate that the victim was ambushed during the night by unknown assailants. Because the victim’s motorcycle was missing from the scene, detectives believe he was assaulted and robbed before being killed.
During the examination of the body, investigators recovered a Uganda Police Force T-shirt, raising strong suspicions regarding his profession. However, no identification documents were found on him.
Detectives were further puzzled by a unique detail: the victim was wearing multiple jackets at the time of his death. Near the body, police recovered two wooden sticks believed to be the murder weapons, alongside clothing items suspected to belong to the assailants. A sniffer dog was deployed to track the attackers, though no immediate leads were established.
The incident has intensified local outcries over a sharp rise in violent crime along the highway, particularly in the Nsuube and Kagoma stretches. Local leaders note that criminals frequently exploit the dark, forested areas bordering the road to ambush vulnerable travellers.
“This place has become a death trap,” said Rajab Kakande, the Defence Secretary of Mutai Village. “Criminals hide in the forest and attack unsuspecting travellers along the highway. We have repeatedly raised concerns, and the stretch from Jinja Roundabout to Kamuli urgently needs increased security deployment.”
The boda boda community, which frequently utilizes the route at night, expressed deep vulnerability following the attack.
Salim Muwaata, the chairman of boda boda riders in Jinja District, confirmed that the area has evolved into a criminal hotspot.
“Many riders now live in fear as attacks are becoming frequent, especially at night. We are calling for increased patrols to protect road users,” Muwaata urged.
The brutal killing has left the Mutai community deeply shaken, with many questioning how such a violent assault could occur unnoticed along a major highway.
By press time, the body had been transported to the Buwenge Health Centre IV mortuary for a postmortem examination. Police have intensified efforts to formally identify the deceased, establish his connection to law enforcement, and track down the fleeing suspects.