Authorities in Busia District have opened an investigation into a fatal stabbing incident that occurred during a political mobilization rally for the ruling National Resistance Movement (NRM), leaving one youth dead and two others injured.
The deceased, 19-year-old disc jockey Polly Bwire, was reportedly attacked around 1:00 a.m. on Friday during a rally organized by State Minister for Youth and Children Affairs Balaam Barugahara in Namungodi Town Council. The incident also left Lawrence Owori and 16-year-old student Collins Ojambo nursing injuries.
According to Busia District Police Commander Alice Kuka, Bwire was stabbed by unidentified assailants and died en route to Busia Health Centre IV. Initial police findings point to the possibility of politically motivated violence.
Tensions flared during the rally when Minister Barugahara arrived alongside Minister of State for Regional Cooperation and area MP John Mulimba. Chaos erupted between Mulimba’s supporters and those loyal to his political rival, John Paul Wandera, both of whom are vying for the NRM flag bearer position in the upcoming party primaries.
Controversy was further fueled when Barugahara, while addressing the crowd, urged supporters to “beat up” anyone who opposed Mulimba—remarks that some fear may have incited violence.
Police are now probing whether the minister’s comments may have triggered retaliatory attacks, including the one that killed Bwire, whose body was found with a deep neck wound consistent with a sharp object.
Eyewitness Joseph Obonyo, who had just parted ways with Bwire moments before the attack, described seeing a hooded individual flee the scene. Ojambo, one of the injured victims, recalled being attacked by a man wielding an axe, who disappeared into the darkness.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the motives behind the attacks and identify those responsible, as community members mourn the young lives affected by the violence.