Man, 52, gruesomely murdered in Queen Elizabeth National Park

Kanungu, (UG): The police in Kanungu District in western Uganda are actively investigating the untimely death of one Johnson Ntegyerize whose body was found in Queen Elizabeth National Park in a suspected murder incident.

Ntegyerize alias Kazungu, 52, a resident of Kameme village, Kimbibiri parish Kihihi sub-county in Kanungu district had reportedly gone poaching with a colleague only identified as Baguma on the 12th of September, 2023, and his body was found dead the next day.

According to Kigezi Region Police spokesperson Mr Elly Maate, Azirwe Anna, an aunt of the deceased raised the alarm when she failed to get in touch with him when he failed to return home the previous day.

“She then asked other relatives in Kameme’s cell and Kambuuga whether they had seen or heard from him to no avail. It was then that a search was initiated by the residents, which led them to suspect poachers named Baguma and Makyemakye,” Mr Maate told journalists on Monday.

The Regional Police spokesperson added that further inquiries were made, and one of the suspects, Makyemakye, was arrested and led the residents to the murder scene in the national park, where they discovered the remains of the deceased.

Police also recovered gumboots, a panga with suspected rusty blood, torn trousers, a yellow/pink shirt, skeleton remains of leg bones, and a decomposing skull, all of which reportedly belonged to Johnson Ntegyerize alias Kajungu.

David Ntegyerize, a family member, informed the police, who then conducted a scene of the crime investigation and found the mentioned exhibits.

Maate revealed that a postmortem examination was then conducted at Matanda Health Center, while four suspects have since been arrested to assist in investigations.

“The whereabouts of Baguma, the second suspected poacher, are not known at this time. The police have urged anyone with helpful information to come forward and assist with investigations,” said Mr Maate.