A night out in Masaka turned deadly when a quarrel between two men over a woman ended in a fatal stabbing in Mukungwe–Kiyanja Village, Nyendo–Mukungwe Division.
The incident took place in the early hours of Monday, at around 2 a.m., shortly after the men had returned from watching the Uganda Cranes take on Niger in a football match. The two men, identified as Denis Luyima and Pafula Nuwabiire, decided to stop at a local bar for drinks before heading home.
According to eyewitnesses, it was at this bar that the trouble began. The two reportedly got into an argument over a woman, later identified as Stella Adongo. Words quickly turned into heated accusations, with Nuwabiire suspecting that Luyima was romantically involved with his girlfriend. The tension escalated, and the verbal exchange soon became physical.
In the chaos, witnesses say Nuwabiire allegedly pulled out a knife and stabbed Luyima in the chest. The wound proved fatal, and Luyima died instantly before help could arrive. Shocked patrons looked on as the suspect fled the immediate scene.
Residents of Mukungwe–Kiyanja expressed outrage and sorrow over the incident. Community elder Mathias Ddumba condemned the killing, pointing to excessive alcohol consumption and the mushrooming of unregulated bars that stay open until morning as a growing problem. “Too many men abandon their homes to spend entire nights in bars, and it is fueling domestic conflicts,” another resident said.
Local Council I Chairperson Reginah Najjinda echoed these concerns, adding that drug abuse among the youth was contributing to reckless and violent behavior. She urged tighter regulation of bars and stronger community action to curb substance abuse.
Police officers from Nyendo Division responded swiftly after being alerted, cordoning off the area and examining the premises for evidence. Luyima’s body was later transported to Masaka Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination.
Greater Masaka Region Police Spokesperson ASP Twaha Kasirye confirmed that both Pafula Nuwabiire and Stella Adongo had been taken into custody to assist with the investigation. “We are conducting a thorough inquiry to establish the exact circumstances that led to this tragic loss of life,” he said.
The killing has reignited community calls for stronger measures to address alcohol abuse, bar licensing enforcement, and conflict resolution. Locals say the loss of life over such disputes is avoidable and should serve as a wake-up call to address underlying social problems before they turn violent.
