A female security guard was brutally murdered while on duty at Tororo Cement quarters in Tororo Municipality late Friday night.Beatrice Ekiling, 50, who worked for Gideon Men Security Firm, was attacked and killed by unidentified assailants.
Her body was discovered in a pool of blood, with her firearm abandoned beside her.Authorities suspect the attackers were targeting motorcycles stored within the quarters, which were reportedly stolen during the incident.Tororo Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Sadiq Bategana Bakale confirmed that law enforcement had launched an investigation into the murder and theft.
“We found motorcycles stolen, and the lady was killed, but her gun was left behind. We have introduced a sniffer dog to track the culprits, and we shall do all it takes to bring them to book,” Bakale stated.
Residents believe the attackers were solely focused on stealing property and had no interest in taking the firearm.
Martin Opio, the area defense secretary, supported this claim.
“I believe the attack was about the stolen motorcycles. The attackers were likely not interested in the gun because they probably didn’t know how to operate it. They only know how to use weapons like pangas, knives, and hammers,” he said.
Ekiling, a resident of Mayembe village in Asinge sub-county, Tororo District, was a widow and mother of seven. She had worked in the security sector for over 14 years to provide for her family. Two of her children are currently in university, while her youngest is in Senior Five.
Her neighbor, Paul Ochieng, recalled previous conversations with her about the risks of working night shifts.
“I had personally warned her about working at night, but she explained how her salary was not enough to cover her children’s education. She told me she had to take on extra shifts to supplement her earnings,” he said.Ekiling began her security career in 2011 with Securiko Uganda before moving to Gideon Men Security Firm in 2016 in search of better opportunities.
Residents of South Central village in Tororo Municipality have partially blamed the Tororo Cement Factory management for failing to secure the premises, arguing that the company’s neglect has enabled criminal activity.They claim that many factory-owned houses in the quarters are abandoned, providing hideouts for wrongdoers.
“Most of these houses are empty. Several workers opted to rent outside due to excessive salary deductions by the factory heads, making the place unsafe. Workers staying in these quarters face deductions of up to four hundred thousand shillings from their salaries,” revealed one anonymous worker.
Ekiling’s body has been taken for a postmortem examination as authorities intensify their search for the culprits.Police have urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity as investigations continue.
