Iganga, Uganda: Police in Iganga are actively investigating a case of brutal murder of Mwase Karim, the Assistant Resident District Commissioner (ARDC) for Lira, whose body was discovered in a trench along the Iganga–Bugiri highway on Sunday night.
Preliminary findings indicate that Mwase was returning from Bugweri, where the Iganga RDC, Hajji Wandera Sadala, had hosted RDCs, Deputy RDCs, and Assistant RDCs to declare his intention to contest for the Bugweri County parliamentary seat.
According to Busoga East Police Spokesperson SP Michael Kafayo, the meeting was cut short after RDC Wandera collapsed and was rushed to Imperial Hospital in Iganga for emergency care. Mwase and others then proceeded to Sana Country Inn Hotel for dinner.
“During the meeting, RDC Wandera allegedly collapsed after developing an illness and was rushed to Imperial Hospital for medical attention. The meeting was subsequently called off, and the guests, including Mwase proceeded to Sana Hotel for dinner,” said SP Kafayo.
Later that night, a Toyota Sienta, registration number UBH 449L, was found abandoned with hazard lights on at Bukabooli village in Nakalama Sub County, Iganga District. The car, which belongs to Kakaire Abudallah, Assistant RDC of Bugweri District, had no keys inside.
It was a team of breakdown service providers who made the chilling discovery—Mwase’s lifeless body lay in a trench next to the abandoned vehicle. He had visible injuries to the face, and blood was seen oozing from his nose and mouth, leading investigators to believe he had been strangled before being dumped at the scene.
Detectives and a police canine unit responded but were unable to trace the killers. The sniffer dog lost the scent after trailing it for approximately one kilometre. Mwase’s body was taken to Iganga General Hospital at Nakavule for a postmortem.
The incident has sparked outrage in Bugweri, with residents demanding urgent government intervention to boost security on major highways. Locals are calling for increased surveillance through security cameras, patrol vehicles, and lighting along the Iganga–Bugiri highway.
“We ask the government to do something about this because I can’t imagine what will happen to us if such high-profile people are being murdered,” said Mr. Kakooza Abubaker, aspiring MP for Bugweri County.
“We ask for enough security cameras in Bugweri, enough patrol vehicles, and security lights along the major roads,” he added.
Mr. Musa Kakata from Makuutu Sub County called on authorities to retrieve and review highway surveillance footage to establish the truth. “Time is now to appreciate the functions of the police cameras along that highway,” he said.
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