Mukono, Uganda
Fear and unease are beginning to grip the residents of Mukono Municipality after a series of violent panga attacks.
In the past month, several separate incidents have left the community on edge, as attackers, armed with sharp pangas, target unsuspecting individuals late at night.
These brutal assaults are carried out by men riding bodabodas, typically just before midnight, striking fear into various villages within the municipality.
This wave of violence has left many residents worried about their safety and the security of their community.
The incidents
On August 16th, the most recent and alarming incident occurred when the Mukono Medical Director, Dr. Anthony Kkonde, was viciously attacked on his way home around 11 p.m.
Kkonde suffered multiple cuts on his head and other parts of his body during the attack.
The Deputy Police Spokesperson for Kampala Metropolitan, Luke Oweyesigyire, confirmed the incident, stating that Dr. Kkonde’s body was found just a few meters from his home, covered in blood.
Initial investigations suggest that Kkonde had parked his car at Jobia Hotel in Upper Kauga and decided to walk the short distance, about half a kilometre, to his home.
Oweyesigyire mentioned that they are still working to uncover all the details surrounding the attack.
Dr. Kkonde was initially rushed to Mukono General Hospital for emergency treatment. From there, he was referred to Naggalama for a CT scan.
According to Dr. Stephen Mulindwa, the District Health Officer, the scan results revealed alarming brain injuries, prompting them to refer the medical director to Nakasero Hospital for further care.
“The team of doctors at Nakasero spent six hours operating on him and is still under their monitoring. They will allow people to visit him after three days,” Mulindwa noted.
On that same night, in the same area, another person, Joanaas Namombwe, a 25-year-old daughter of Rose Nagadya from Lower Kauga, was also brutally attacked and suffered multiple cuts to her head.
She was quickly taken to Mukono General Hospital and later transferred to Mulago Hospital for specialized care.
David Ssemwogerere, the Defense Secretary for Upper Kauga, mentioned that no resident has reported hearing any disturbances or alarms.
However, the scene where the victims were found shows signs of a serious struggle, suggesting a violent attack.
On August 14th, Matiya Mutema was assaulted while coming from a bar on Namiryango Road in Gwafu Village, Goma Division.
On August 3rd, Badru Sukulu from Lower Kauga narrowly escaped an attack around 10 p.m., but he still sustained injuries from the cuts. He recalls that the attackers were riding bodabodas.
On July 28th, Ronald Nsubuga, a resident of Kauga, was hacked and left along the road.
On July 20th, Frank Bayinda, a bodaboda rider, was attacked and cut in Kyungu Village as he was returning home from work. That same night, Abudu Balabyeki was also attacked and cut near the NIRA offices in Butebe Village.
Earlier, in August, 35-year-old Patrick Okware, a security guard from Marvel Security Limited, was tragically killed similarly, and his gun was stolen.
Okware was on duty at the Kaziimba hostels, owned by Archbishop Stephen Kaziimba Mugalu. Oweyesigyire noted that the police are still actively searching for the missing gun.
Local leaders and LCI-Chairpersons have reported that numerous people in their villages have fallen victim to these panga-wielding thugs.
The attacks have spread across several villages, including Jjoggo, Buddugala, and Nyenje in Goma Division, as well as Upper Kauga, Lower Kauga, Nabuti, Ntaawo, and Total Village in the Central Division.
Another victim, Zapi Lyaleni from Total Village, was ambushed and cut while heading home near the YMCA.
In Ntawo Village, Esther Nakibirango, who works at Seeta Market, was brutally attacked on her way home around 11 p.m., resulting in broken fingers on her right hand.
Her husband, Moses Kaddu, shared that Esther is receiving serious treatment but is now fearful of working late into the night.
“They stole her handbag, which had about Shillings 500,000 in it. We urge the security forces to take action—this insecurity is harming us both physically and financially,” Kaddu pleaded.
District Leaders Speak
The LCI-Chairperson of Ntawo, David Sseruwagi, mentioned that many people in the area have been attacked and cut by thugs.
While some have reported these incidents to the police, others haven’t, especially those who were just passing through. These victims are often robbed of their belongings during the attacks.
Bitamisi Muteresa, a councillor at Mukono Municipality, expressed her frustration, saying it is heartbreaking to see the government failing to protect people and their properties.
She pointed out that these panga-wielding attackers used to be a major threat in Masaka, but now they have brought fear to Mukono. She believes urgent action is needed to improve security.
The Resident District Commissioner (RDC), Fatumah Ndisaba Nabitaka, confirmed that they have received reports of these attacks on innocent residents.
However, she is concerned that many victims have chosen to remain silent instead of reporting the incidents. She emphasized that reporting helps authorities plan better to catch the attackers.
Ndisaba said they have called for a security meeting to address the situation and have already instructed the police to work together with the army to arrest those responsible.
She also advised residents to avoid walking alone late at night unless necessary.
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