Summary:
- The suspects who include Rashid Mwesigwa, Beda Turinawe, and Nicholas Niwagaba, all residents of Buhara Sub-County are currently held at Kabale Central Police Station for questioning.
KABALE: Police in Kabale District have arrested three suspects in connection with the murder of Africano Kawiti, a 60-year-old peasant from Kigugo Village, Buhara Sub-County.
According to Kigezi Police Spokesperson Elly Maate, Kawiti was killed on Tuesday night, following a prolonged land dispute. The suspects who include Rashid Mwesigwa, Beda Turinawe, and Nicholas Niwagaba, all residents of Buhara Sub-County are currently held at Kabale Central Police Station for questioning.
The land dispute dates back to 2023 when Mwesigwa sold a 40x90ft piece of land to Kawiti for Shs 4 million. Family members of Mwesigwa, unhappy with the sale, demanded the land be recovered or replaced.
When Mwesigwa failed to fulfill their demands, the suspects reportedly pressured Kawiti to return the land. Kawiti, however, insisted on a refund, which the suspects could not provide.
Maate said that the suspects resorted to threats, violence, and force to reclaim the land. He noted that the deceased had previously reported threats and an incident of criminal trespass to Buhara Police.
He elaborated that on Tuesday Morning, Turinawe and Niwagaba allegedly confronted Kawiti, warning him to vacate the land or face fatal consequences. That night, Kawiti was murdered.
Maate said that the body of the deceased was discovered by a neighbor, Abe Julius, who notified the area chairperson, Tibamanya Paul. Tibamanya reported the matter to Buhara Police, prompting an investigation led by the District CID officer.
He revealed that a police canine introduced at the scene led officers directly to the suspects’ house, resulting in their arrest.The scene was thoroughly examined, statements were taken, and a postmortem confirmed that Kawiti suffered bruises and internal bleeding.
CUE IN MAATE….ON THE MATTER…..RR/ENG//
