Two arrested in Jinja City over machete attacks

Jinja, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Police in Kiira region have arrested two brothers, for allegedly masterminding machete attacks in the different parts of the country.

The suspects Isa Kalulu and Khalid Kalulu, all residents of Kabi zone, in Buwenge town council, in Jinja district were arrested on Tuesday and are currently detained at Buwenge Police Station.

Detectives mounted a search in their house where they recovered two machetes, sharp knives, steel bars, electric wires, and hammers, among other equipment, which they allegedly used to attack their victims.

Their arrest follows the killing of Jinja District National Unity Platform-NUP mobilizer, Joseph Kitawu aged 44 years, and Charles Mudiima, both residents of Buwenge sub-county. They were attacked from different places On May 9th, and their bodies dumped near their homes.

Muzamir Nabikamba, the LCI Chairperson of Kabi zone, who survived attacks from machete wielding men says that, the suspects relocated to his area about two months ago. “These two men relocated to my zone in late March and that’s when reports of machete-related attacks increased throughout the district, where such forms of criminality were unheard of,” he says.

Hassan Kinosa, the LCII Chairperson of Buwenge town council says that, they are living in a fast-growing town, with an increasing number of settlers, most of whom are suspicious.

Kinosa wants local leaders to keep track on their populations, which will ease efforts of supporting police authorities to weed out criminal elements from the community.

The Kiira Regional Police Spokesperson, James Mubi said that detectives have intensified the search for the suspects’ accomplices.

Mubi said that, the suspects command a network of youths who camouflage as chapati makers in the major towns and cities across the country, before taking advantage of the night to engage in criminality.

Mubi also said that the suspects operate training cells in Jinja city, Jinja district, Busia municipality and Oyam district, where they train unemployed youths to engage in criminality as a means of survival.

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