Jinja, Uganda: Fear and anxiety continue to grip residents of Mutai-Busibe in Kagoma Town Council, Jinja District, after the body of a boda boda rider was discovered dumped in the area, marking the fourth reported murder in less than two months.
The deceased has been identified as Kayima Yosia, a boda boda rider attached to Namulesa Rotary Stage in Jinja City’s Northern Division. His body was discovered on Saturday under circumstances that have heightened concerns over security in the area.
The latest killing has intensified calls from residents and local leaders for government to install Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras and strengthen security patrols to curb the growing wave of violent crime.
According to residents, Kayima is the latest victim in a string of killings that have shaken the community. Other victims publicly identified include Police Constable Mujjasi Abdul Egesa, who was buried in Buyengo, Kayalwe Village in Jinja District, and Henry Makumbi, 29, a boda boda rider from Muguluka-Kasunsu Road who was buried in Busaana, Kayunga District.
Residents believe the repeated discovery of bodies in Mutai-Busibe points to a worrying security lapse, with some suspecting that victims are being killed elsewhere before their bodies are dumped in the area.
Richard, a resident who declined to disclose his full name, told DailyExpress that the circumstances surrounding Kayima’s death suggest the crime may not have been committed at the scene where the body was found.
“Some are stabbed dead from this place, but it seems this one was just ferried after being killed from another place. In less than one month, another person was killed and the body dumped in this very place,” he said.
Another resident, Isabirye Lazarus, said he received information about the incident before reporting it to police. He appealed to security agencies to intensify patrols, describing the area as increasingly vulnerable to violent attacks.
Jinja District LCV Chairperson Moses Batwala condemned the latest killing, saying residents are living in fear following the succession of murders.
“In one and a half months, we have lost five people in this area and we have identified the deceased as Kayima Yosia, a boda boda rider. We condemn the murder and we ask police to provide security in the area and the entire Jinja District,” Batwala said.
Batwala also urged the government to urgently install roadside CCTV cameras in crime hotspots, arguing that surveillance technology would strengthen investigations and help security agencies identify and apprehend those behind the killings.
He further called on residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities to security authorities as investigations continue.
By press time, Kiira Regional Police had not issued an official statement on the latest murder. Investigations into the incident were ongoing.
The latest killing adds to growing concerns over violent crime targeting boda boda riders and other members of the public in parts of Busoga, with community leaders now demanding stronger security measures to restore public confidence.
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