Police in Kyegegwa District are investigating the murder of a 35-year-old man who was beaten to death by a mob on allegations of killing his 38-year-old lover whom he accused of infidelity.
Sunday Obed, a peasant and resident of Butale village, Kigambo Sub County, Kyegegwa District was attacked by the mob on Friday, barely a day after he allegedly killed Corodina Mukabunane, a widow and mother of five.
The Rwenzori west police spokesperson, Mr Vincent Twesige, said Mukabunane left her home in Butale village to Kyafaka village to attend a school meeting and returned late in the night (on Thursday) with Mr Obed.
“One of her children came out of the house when she heard her mother’s voice outside. She said she saw Obed standing with her mother outside before an argument ensued between them. Obed accused Mukabunane of infidelity. As they were still arguing, Obed pulled a machete out of his shirt and cut Mukabunane’s head off,” Mr Twesige.
Obed then took off and went into hiding, according to police. However, when residents got wind of what had happened, they staged a search operation through the night and found him Friday morning hiding in Butale swamp.
“After angry residents found this deadly man hiding in the swamp, police overpowered them by firing bullets in air to disperse the mob. However, he escaped from the hands of our officers before residents followed him and stoned him to death. By the time our officers arrived, it was too late,” Mr Twesige added.
He said Obed and Mukabunane’s bodies were picked and taken to Kyegegwa hospital mortuary for postmortem as investigations continue.
One of Mukabunane’s in-laws, Mr Henry Byaruhanga, told this reporter that after the death of her husband, James Barutsya in 2017, she fell in love with Obed. However, as years went by, he started accusing her of infidelity.
Past incidents
In November last year, Police in Kyegegwa District arrested a 47-year-old man found stuck with the body of his 23-year-old wife who he allegedly killed.
The deceased, Twikirize Ronious was a resident of Kayembe-Bujunjura village.
Police report
In the 2022 police annual crime report, the Rwenzori west region registered 39 cases of murder by mob action, 18 cases of murder following domestic violence, 35 cases of murder by strangulation, and 24 cases of murder by assault.
In the same report, Kyegegwa district registered a total of 1,421 criminal cases, including murder, robbery, and rape, among others and was ranked third out of nine districts in the region.
Source: Monitor
