Boda Boda rider killed in Mbale, motorcycle taken

Mbale, (UG): Police in Mbale District are on a manhunt for assailants who murdered a boda boda rider in cold blood and stole his motorcycle before dumping his body in Namatyale River, Sironko district in eastern Uganda.

The body of the deceased identified as Mulenje Aramazani, a male adult in his early 20s and a resident of Namazeba cell, Kiwuno ward in Mbale Northern division was found floating on the river on Wednesday, September 20, according to Elgon Region police spokesperson SP Rogers Taitika.

Preliminary investigations reveal that on the fateful day, the deceased had returned home from his workplace (Aswan boda boda stage) in Mbale City when he received a phone call to go and transport a yet-to-be-identified passenger.

“It’s alleged that on the 14th of September 2023 at night, the deceased came back from his workplace of Aswan boda boda stage in Mbale city and shortly after his return, he informed the father one Mukama Paul that he was going back to his workplace because he had a customer waiting for him and he left but never returned,” Mr Taitika said in a police statement.

Mr Taitika adds that the deceased was riding a motorcycle registration number UFP 945C, a Bajaj boxer red in color, with the suspicion that he was first killed and dumped in the river before the assailants made off with his motorcycle.

According to the Regional police spokesperson, the deceased’s mother identified as Nagudi Sarah, 49, a resident of Namazeba cell, Lwaso ward reported a case of disappearance at Namayonyi police post on file number SD 06/16/09/2023 on September 16, 2023, and police kicked off with the investigations into the case.

He added that Mulenje’s body was recovered in a decomposing state when the skin had started peeling off and that the tongue was protruding out.

Mr Taitika said the perpetrators might have used the phone call to plot Mulenje’s death and advised boda boda riders to always turn down suspicious phone calls, especially during late hours since a number of people have been losing their lives in a similar way.

He said police will work harmoniously with the local leaders and residents to hunt for the perpetrators and once arrested, they will be charged with among others murder adding that serious investigations are ongoing to establish the exact cause of his death.