Residents in fear as machete-wielding thugs attack Greater Masaka again

KALUNGU. Police in Greater Masaka Sub region have mounted a search for unknown assailants who attacked four villages, injured seven people and burnt one of their homes in Kalungu District on Friday morning.

According to eyewitnesses, assailants descended on villages of Kalungi in Lukaya Town Council, Bugiri, Kisimbanyiriri and Lusango in Bukulula Sub County.

Mr Alex Kamya, a resident of Kisimbanyiriri Village said the attackers were armed with clubs and machetes.
Like has been in the case in previous attacks, the assailants never took or asked for anything from the victims.

"This has surprised us. We want to know what their motive was," Mr Kamya noted adding, “the police use extreme force in fighting opposition politicians but can’t ensure safety of residents and their property.”

The injured include; the chairperson Kisibanyimba village, Mr Yosam Wasswa , who was severally injured as he attempted to fight the attackers.

Other victims include; Matia Kirama, Grace Ntambi Florence Nampijja Jane Namukasa, Vincent Musoke and Masturah Nalumansi. The attackers also set Mr Richard Sseruwo’s house on fire.

The victims were admitted to Kalungu Nursing Home where they are currently receiving treatment.

While meeting the victims on Saturday morning, the Southern Region Police Commander, Mr Latif Zaake, said police are still hunting for the suspects.
“Such incidents have been surfacing in other districts of Bukomansimbi, Sembabule, Rakai and Masaka, but we have been able to handle the situation,” Mr Zaake confidently said.

Mr Zaake, who served as Kalungu District police commander before being RPC, added that by the time he worked in Kalungu ,he had ensured that local assist police in securing their villages and that is why the recent crime wave that rocked the sub region never extended to Kalungu.
The region had gotten a semblance of relief from the terrifying incidents that included anonymous 'machete -wielding’ thugs that went around villages,attacking people’s homes at night and cut the occupants over unknown intentions.

The attacks have left communities in Masaka Sub Region in fear shortly after suffering similar attacks early this year.
In the last three weeks, four people have lost lives as machete – wielding assailants descend on different communities in Masaka Sub-region , leaving twenty others seriously injured.
The last attack was in Lwabenge Sub -county in Kalungu District where the assailants thugs also robbed over Shs2.9m and a 20-litre-jerrycan of petrol .They also raped a woman. Police have since managed to arrest two suspects.
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