Iganga, Uganda: Police in Busoga East have launched a manhunt for a man accused of hacking to death and secretly burying his biological mother in Bulamagi Sub-county, Iganga District, in what investigators believe was a dispute over land ownership.
The suspect, identified as Anthony Kalulu, is accused of killing his mother, Bakulimya Sylvia, 56, at their home in Kasolo Village after allegedly demanding a land sale agreement that would allow him to take control of family land.
Authorities say the incident occurred on March 11, 2026, but the crime only came to light after relatives and neighbours became suspicious when the woman could not be seen at home.
According to Regional Police Spokesperson, Mr Michael Kasadha, preliminary investigations indicate that Kalulu had earlier threatened his mother during a disagreement over the land documents.
“Prior to the incident, the suspect had been seen by community members threatening the deceased while demanding a land sales agreement,” Kasadha said in a statement, adding that the situation escalated when family members began searching for Bakulimya after she went missing.
Police say suspicion was raised after Edward Kawooma, the suspect’s brother, sent his wife to check on their mother around 3:00 pm, but she could not be found.
Later that night, Kawooma returned to the home and found the house locked. “At about 1:00am, Kawooma went back to check whether their mother had returned, but the house was still locked,” Kasadha said.
When Kalulu was asked to open the house, a heap of soil was discovered inside the mother’s bedroom, along with blood-stained items, raising immediate suspicion.
Community members and local leaders conducted a search around the home and discovered blood-stained clothes and bed sheets in a nearby pit latrine.
Kawooma then reported the matter to Iganga Central Police Station.
Detectives from the station visited the scene and later discovered the body of Bakulimya buried inside the house.
Upon examination, police found that the victim had severe head injuries, indicating she had likely been assaulted before being killed.
During a search of the house, investigators recovered several items believed to have been used in the crime, including a panga, an axe and a blood-stained stick.
The body was taken to Iganga Hospital mortuary for postmortem examination as investigations continue, while efforts to locate and arrest the suspect are also ongoing.
Community condemns killing
Local leaders and residents have strongly condemned the killing, describing it as a tragic example of escalating land disputes within families.
Cyrus Wekiya, LC3 chairperson-elect for Bulamagi Sub-county, said preliminary information suggests the suspect had been demanding his share of the land with intentions of selling it.
“We got information that the suspect wanted a share of the land, but his mother objected after realizing he intended to sell it,” Wekiya said.
He urged young people to avoid relying solely on family property and instead focus on hard work and peaceful conflict resolution. “This is unfortunate, especially at a time when the youth should be focusing on building their future through hard work,” he added.
Police have urged members of the public with information about the suspect’s whereabouts to report to the nearest police station.
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