Mbale, Uganda — Authorities in the Elgon Region have confirmed the dramatic arrest of a male student from Manafwa District who was caught attempting to flee into Kenya after allegedly participating in the brutal killing of a woman in Busajabwankuba Cell, Namunsi Ward, on June 12.
According to Elgon Region Police spokesperson Rogers Taitika, the suspect is currently in custody and assisting investigators with crucial leads into the heinous attack that left the community reeling with fear and anger.
“The suspect was taken into custody following intensive investigations and remains under police detention as inquiries continue,” Mr. Taitika said in a statement to the press.
Police reports allege that the arrested student, along with a 17-year-old accomplice, ambushed a woman identified as Nambuya around 11 a.m. as she returned home from purchasing charcoal. The duo reportedly demanded her phone, and when she resisted, they hacked her in the neck with a sharp panga and fled the scene with the stolen device.
The horrifying attack sent shockwaves through the neighborhood. Angry residents launched an immediate manhunt, catching one of the suspects just moments later. He was found with a blood-stained machete and the victim’s phone in his possession. In a grim twist, the suspect was fatally beaten by the mob before law enforcement could arrive.
“The motive for the killing remains unclear, but the investigation has made substantial headway,” Mr. Taitika added.
The arrest of the second suspect — the surviving student — marks a significant development in the case. The case file has been forwarded to the resident state attorney, and the suspect is expected to appear in court in the coming days to face charges.
This incident adds to a disturbing trend of violent crimes targeting women and youth in Mbale City and surrounding districts. In March, a 15-year-old girl was raped and strangled in a guesthouse, and in 2023, an 18-year-old female student was found murdered and dumped in a pond — crimes that remain etched in the public’s memory.
As investigations continue, the community is demanding justice and heightened protection for girls and women, especially as schools close for holidays and many young people return home.
Authorities have urged residents to remain calm and avoid taking the law into their own hands. Meanwhile, calls for improved neighborhood surveillance and youth sensitization programs are growing louder in the wake of the tragedy.
