Mityana machete attack leaves one dead, three hospitalized

Police in Mityana District have arrested three suspects in connection with a machete attack on a family at Namaseenene Village, Bulera Sub-county, in the early hours of Friday morning.

The gang reportedly raided the home of Zefania Matongo at around 1a.m, attacking him, his wife Specioza Mukankusi, and a farmhand, Erisa Kiggundu, with machetes.

The assailants made off with three mobile phones and Shs 200,000 in cash.

Emergency responders quickly alerted officers at Mutetema Police Station, who rushed to the scene and transported the injured victims to Bulera Health Centre III for initial treatment before transferring them to Mulago National Referral Hospital for further care.

Following the attack, the gang moved 500 meters away and targeted Sam Kwizerimaana Baligondoza, killing him on the spot.

Baligondoza, who was reportedly on his way home, was suffocated by the attackers, who tied his mouth and nose with a piece of cloth.

Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, Racheal Kawala, confirmed the tragic incident, stating: “The attackers not only beat him up but also tied his mouth and nose with a piece of cloth. Thankfully, our detectives have arrested three suspects who are currently being held at Mityana Central Police Station. We hope they will provide more information about these heinous acts.”

The suspects were apprehended during a police operation in neighboring Kassanda District.

This latest attack adds to a series of similar machete raids that have plagued Central Uganda, particularly the Greater Masaka region, in recent years.

Previous attacks have included warnings issued to residents before the assaults, a pattern that continued into 2024 and 2025.

In one such incident on October 12, a gang of seven young attackers, armed with machetes, struck homes in Myanzi Sub County, Kassanda District, and Mityana Municipality, injuring three people and robbing a family of school fees from Dreams Primary School.

The same gang also targeted the home of Gabriel Kakooza in Mityana Municipality, demanding money and destroying household items.

Other similar attacks in 2024 included a robbery at the home of Mityana Municipality Mayor Faustine Mukambwe, where thugs stole Shs 900,000 and a mobile phone, as well as an attack on the home of Mityana Deputy Resident Commissioner Prossy Mwanjuzi, where her vehicle was torched.

In Mpigi District, Nswanjere Junior Seminary was targeted, with three people injured and valuables stolen.