Police in Kitgum District have arrested a man who allegedly beat his friend to death after accusing him of eating his roasted rat meat without asking.
The two men are said to have fallen out after the suspect noticed that one of his roasted rats had gone missing. What started as a verbal argument quickly turned physical, and the victim, identified as Omony, took the worse end of the beating.
Omony was rushed to Orom Health Centre for treatment but was pronounced dead on arrival.
His body was later taken to Namukora Health Centre IV for a postmortem examination, while the suspect was picked up and is currently being held at Kitgum Central Police Station.
In Kitgum and neighbouring Lamwo District, roasted rats are not just a meal but a livelihood. They are a prized delicacy in the communities of Northern Uganda, and vendors sell them along roadsides with each rat fetching between 500 and 1,000 shillings depending on its size.
For many families, the trade is a meaningful source of daily income, which perhaps explains why the discovery of a missing rat was enough to push one man over the edge.
Police are continuing with investigations as the matter is handled by the courts.
