One raped, five injured in an attack on Ugandan village

By Tom Mugisha, tom.mugisha@alleastafrica.com

KAMPALA – An 18 -year -old girl has been raped and five people injured in an attack by unidentified people in the villages of Kasebuti and Masaaba, Bukulula Sub County, Kalungu district in Central Uganda.

The rape victim is a daughter of a nurse at Bukulula Health Centre IV who was not at home at the time of the attack. The area has been experiencing similar attacks for the last couple of months despite police heightening security in the area.

One of the victims was quoted by the Daily Monitor newspaper narrating how her one month baby was removed her and dropped in a nearby trading center.

 “They attacked at round 2am armed with hammers, machetes and axes. They were not asking for anything. They took away my baby and was found abandoned in the trading center ,” Ms Nambogo said.

Another victim, George William Kitengo, a retired police constable and currently serving as crime preventer  in the village said the attackers intention is harm and rape people..

“These men (assailants ) don’t like to take anything, they don’t say anything. They just attack, beat and cut whoever they find in the house,” Kitengo said.

He added that he tried to fight back using the tactics he attained during police training course but the thugs overpowered him.

Other victims include Richard Mangala, Jane Nayagga and Winnie Katushabe. The trio was seriously cut on the head, chest and some on the legs and was all are currently admitted at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.

Sister Harriet Ijangolet, the officer in charge of emergence at the hospital said two of the victims are in critical condition.

“They have open head cuts and Katushabe is still unconscious. We hope she will be fine with time,” Ms Ijangolet noted.

Although some of the victims claimed that the attackers were not asking for money, Southern Regional Police spokesperson, Mr Lameck Kigozi says their preliminarily investigations indicate that the thugs’ intention was to rob since they asked for money.

“They (assailants) first raided Matia Mugejje whom they robbed Shs 300,000, and further went to Badru Tamale’s home ,destroyed his car garage and robbed Shs 150,000 .They also attacked another resident, Lutamaguzi who gave them Shs7,000,” Mr Kigozi said.

While visiting some of the victims of the attacks early last month, Minister for Security, Lt. Gen Henry Tumukunde, claimed that the on-going wave of crime particularly in Masaka Sub-region could be the work of some ill-intentioned politicians who want to portray a bad image that the government has failed to protect people.