The police in the North Kyoga Region have issued a statement concerning the tragic death of a 40-year-old man in Kole district, Lango sub-region. The man was allegedly killed during a dispute over land.
Territorial police in Kole district are currently holding one Ojok Denis on allegations of cutting and killing his nephew, identified as Ojok Tobby, who was 40 years old, in Abim village, Ayaraya parish, Alito Sub-County in Kole District.
According to the North Kyoga Region Police PRO, SP Jimmy Patrick Okema, this incident occurred at around 19:00 hours. The report was registered with the police by Ekwalo Charles, aged 42, from the same area.
It is alleged that on the evening , the suspect emerged from a nearby cassava garden, found Tobby (the deceased) at home, seated on his veranda, and attacked him, inflicting severe head injuries with an axe, leading to his immediate death. The suspect allegedly left the murder weapon at the scene and fled.
The wife of the deceased returned home to find her husband severely injured and bleeding. She raised an alarm, attracting others to the crime scene. Unfortunately, despite their efforts to save his life and calls for an ambulance, he had lost too much blood and could not be revived.
Preliminary findings suggest that a land conflict between the suspect and the deceased may have been a motivating factor. The suspect reportedly desired a piece of land that was legally in the possession of the deceased, as it had been allocated to him after a clan division.
The police, including the Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) and a team of detectives from the homicide squad, have visited the crime scene, conducted examinations, and documented the evidence. The alleged murder weapon, an axe, has been recovered and preserved as an exhibit.
Statements have been recorded from relevant witnesses as part of the investigation.The body of the deceased has been transported to Lira Regional Referral Hospital, pending a post-mortem examination.
Meanwhile, the suspect has turned himself in to the Alito police station, where the investigation is ongoing.
This tragic incident underscores the importance of peacefully resolving disputes, especially those involving land, within communities and clans. The police have appealed to clan leaders to take a proactive role in resolving such conflicts or seek legal advice when necessary, in order to prevent such unfortunate events.
