Police in Kasese are investigating the suspected suicide of a 40-year-old night watchman following a break-in at the church he was guarding.
Charles Bwambale Kabaya, a resident of Kidodo Cell in Central Division, Kasese Municipality, was found dead on Sunday in Kanyangeya Cell, with police suspecting that he had taken a poisonous substance.
According to police, residents noticed an unusual odour from the deceased and alerted the area chairperson, who reported the matter to Railway Police Station for further management.
Police visited and documented the scene before retrieving the body and taking it to Kasese Municipal Health Centre mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Preliminary police inquiries indicate that Kabaya had been employed as a night watchman at St Mark Railway Church of Uganda.
Police said the church was broken into during the night, and property, including a music system and a screen, was stolen.
According to the police account, Kabaya disappeared from his duty post after the break-in and could not be found when officers responded to the scene.
Police said Kabaya later contacted his relatives and informed them that property had been stolen while he was on duty. He reportedly told them that he intended to take his own life because he feared being arrested and imprisoned over the incident.
“”Inquiries are at hand,” police said.
ASP Elly Maate, the Rwenzori East regional police spokesperson, confirmed the incident and said investigations were continuing.
