17 houses set ablaze in revenge attack

KIBUKU. More than 10 grass-thatched houses and property worth millions of shillings were on Monday morning set ablaze in what is suspected to be a revenge attack.

Bukedi Region police spokesperson Sowali Kamulya confirmed the attack saying it stemmed from the brutal murder of
one Godfrey Walazenya [26], a resident of Nasaga village, Kaderuna Sub-county in Budaka District.

According to Mr Kamulya, the relatives of the deceased Walazenya, armed with pangas, axes and machetes attacked the home of those they suspect to have killed him in Kakubeke village, Bulangira Sub-county in Kibuku District, torched 17 houses and cut down several acres of cassava and banana plantations.

“The gruesome murder of the man reportedly angered relatives of the deceased. They mobilised and attacked the suspected killers’ home, leaving whatever was in their sight completely destroyed. This is unfortunate,” Mr Kamulya said.

It is alleged that the deceased was stabbed to death after a disagreement over a girl at a wedding disco party of one Moses Benya in Bulangira Sub-county. The murder is reported to have occurred at 2.30am.

Police have since strongly condemned the act. “Perpetrators will have to face the law,”Mr Kamulya said.

Mr Kamulya further explained that police have arrested two suspects in the killing, both residents of Kakubeke village, Bulangira Sub-county. The two are being detained at Kibuku Central Police station waiting to be arraigned in court to answer charges of murder.

The Resident District Commissioner, Ms Margret Wazikonya, condemned the act, saying it is totally barbaric and unacceptable for people to continue taking the law into their own hands. “We are going to apprehend whoever was suspected to be involved in this form of hooliganism,” she said.