Man, 50, stabbed to death in dispute over meat sharing

RUBIRIZI, Uganda: The Territorial Police in Rubirizi District have launched investigations into the murder of a 50-year-old man who was allegedly stabbed to death following a disagreement over meat sharing.

The deceased, identified as Tumwebaze Joachim, a resident of Mubanda D Village in Ryeru Sub-county, was reportedly attacked on the night of Thursday, May 28, 2026, during a dispute with a fellow villager.

According to police, the fatal incident occurred at around 9:00 pm when a quarrel allegedly broke out between Tumwebaze and the suspect over the sharing of meat. The disagreement escalated into violence, leaving the victim with fatal stab wounds.

The suspect reportedly fled the scene immediately after the attack, while residents rushed Tumwebaze to Rubirizi Medical Centre for treatment.

However, medical personnel pronounced him dead on arrival.

In a statement released on Friday, the Greater Bushenyi Regional Police spokesperson, SP Apollo Tayebwa, confirmed the incident and said detectives had commenced investigations into the circumstances surrounding the killing.

“The tragic incident occurred on May 28, 2026, at around 9:00pm allegedly after the said Tumwebaze was involved in a serious disagreement with the suspected killer over meat sharing, who fled the scene before the deceased was rushed to Rubirizi Medical Centre for medical attention where he was pronounced dead on arrival,” SP Tayebwa said.

Police said crime scene officers visited and documented the scene before transferring the body to Rugazi Health Centre IV Mortuary for a postmortem examination.

“We managed the scene as per the standard procedure and conveyed the deceased’s body to Rugazi Health Centre IV Mortuary for postmortem examination to establish the exact cause of death,” the police spokesperson added.

Authorities have appealed to members of the public to provide any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect, whose whereabouts remain unknown.

Police further condemned the act and assured the public that efforts are underway to ensure the perpetrator is brought to justice. “We strongly condemn acts of lawlessness and assure the general public that the perpetrator must be brought to justice,” SP Tayebwa said.

The latest killing adds to a growing number of violent crimes linked to domestic and community disputes across Uganda.

According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report 2025, assault-related incidents and murders arising from personal disagreements continue to feature among the leading causes of violent crime in communities, highlighting the need for peaceful conflict resolution mechanisms.