Sombre mood in Kamwokya after murder of LC3 councilor

Kampala, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | There is a somber mood in the slums of Kamwokya, a Kampala city suburb following the brutal murder of the area LC III councilor, James Kakooza. Unknown assailants assaulted Kakooza to death Saturday morning.

Kakooza, who belongs to the ruling National Resistance Movement-NRM party, has been one of the four councilors representing Kamwokya parish at Kampala Central Division. He previously served as the LC I chairperson of the Church zone.

According to preliminary information, the assailants, who were riding on a motorcycle around Jinja road, attacked Kakooza near Centenary Park as he returned from his early morning run.

Patricia Namulindwa, a close family member, who was among the first responders, says that the assailants hit Kakooza twice with a harmer on the head around 06:30 am. She, however, says that the attackers didnt take anything from the deceased.

Muhammad Kabugo, the Defence secretary of Mulimira zone believes that the attackers trailed Kakooza. Unlike Namulindwa, Kabugo suspects Kakooza’s trouble could have resulted from his enthusiasm to flush out criminals from Kamwokya suburbs. According to Kabugo, the deceased has been working closely with the Police and Army to crack down on criminals terrorizing Kamwokya and parts of the Northern bypass.

Stephen Okudi, who has been a neighbor to the deceased for the last 11 years in Kamwokya, described the deceased as a caring man for the people he served. “He has been a hard-working man, and a good leader. He really executed good leadership as an LC I Chairperson, that’s why people voted him as a councilor even in this place that is dominated by NUP,” Okuda said.

By the time of filing this story, hundreds of residents from different parts of Kamwokya were still gathering at the deceased’s home to mourn their departed leader. Kampala Metropolitan Deputy Police spokesperson, Luke Owoyesigyire, says that police responded to the crime scene and efforts are still on to track the suspects while the body has been conveyed to the city mortuary for the post-mortem.

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