A 22-year-old man and his pregnant 18-year-old wife were brutally murdered on Sunday afternoon.
Residents of Kyanssi village, Kyankuru sub-county, Butenga sub-county, Bukomansimbi district say the act is linked to a long-standing land dispute.
Residents say Kabwe Gusito is at the centre of the gruesome murder of Joseph Bukenya and his wife Susan Namukasa.
The horrific incident took place at around 3pm on Sunday when attackers stormed the couple’s house. Mike Sebandeke, chairman of the Kyangkuru community, also believes Bukenya’s death is the result of the Kibanja conflict.
“He called me yesterday and told me that we should sit down and resolve the conflict. We were supposed to meet today but unfortunately the border conflict took his life.” Bukenya’s mother, Joan Nagai, was heartbroken as she recounted her last conversation with her son.
Community violence Residents expressed anger at the Kyangsi village chief and his committee, accusing them of ignoring the issue despite Bukenya’s repeated complaints.
They claim that local authorities failed to resolve the dispute, which ultimately led to the tragic death.
Butenga subcounty has seen an alarming rise in murders. Four people have been killed in the past two months, but authorities have not issued an official report on the incidents.
Police have now arrived at the scene to examine the bodies and have begun a search for suspects, including Kabwe Gusito, who is believed to be the mastermind of the attack and is currently in hiding.
Security forces have also searched some of Gusito’s shrines in an attempt to arrest him.
Bukomansimbi Deputy District Commissioner Fred Kalema Pax assured the community that those responsible for the crimes will be brought to justice.
He also issued a stern warning to local leaders, urging them to act immediately on key issues, especially land disputes, to prevent further violence.
The attackers reportedly first set fire to their home, forcing the couple to flee. When they tried to escape, the attackers attacked them and mercilessly hacked them to death.
The woman’s body was found near a neighbour’s house and the man’s near their own home. Both had burn marks and machete wounds.
“They managed to escape their home alive, but when they called for help, they were met by the attackers, who killed them,” said Jimmy Walugembe, a resident of Kyanssi village. “Fortunately, her child survived as he spent the night at his grandmother’s house.
Otherwise we might have had three bodies. The woman was also suspected to have been pregnant. Relatives of the dead said the attack was due to a long-running land dispute between Bukenya and his uncle, Kabwe Gusito, who sold Kibanja to Bukenya.
Tensions escalated further when Kabwe allegedly threatened him with violence and vowed to kill his nephew if he continued to claim the land.
Mukunyu community chairman and relative John Bosco Wavamuno detailed the threats Bukenya faced: “He has called me many times, including yesterday.
He said our uncle Kabwe showed Kibanja the border but when they argued, Kabwe threatened, “If he breaches the border, he will be killed.”
Another relative, Ronald Kasita, revealed that Bukenya had contacted him three days before the attack as he had fled to his home in Sembabule fearing for his life. Sadly, he was killed before he could leave.
The two were once very close but their relationship soured over the sale of the land. “They did everything together until Kabwe sold Kibanja to Bukenya,” Kasita said.
