Kabale Murder Suspect Dies in Police Custody

A 43-year-old man who was accused of hacking two people to death and injuring two others in Kabale District has died shortly after his arrest.

The suspect, John Mugisha passed away on Wednesday at Kabale regional referral hospital where he was admitted with injuries sustained from a mob action that preceded his arrest on Monday.

Mugisha, a resident of Nyamugoma village in Kaharo Sub County on Sunday hacked to death his stepmother, Jacinta Birungi and his brother, Stephen Twebaze. He also injured Annah Tukamushaba and one Willy Turyasingura alias Kabuga.

Mugisha was arrested from his hide out on Monday

He reportedly found Twebaze at Nyabitabo trading Centre where he was drinking at around 7:30 pm and picked up a quarrel.

Police says he accused Twebaze and Birungi of taking over the family land and practicing witchcraft.  He also accused the victims of falsely pinning him to an arson incident at Nyamugoma Catholic Church.

Mugisha, who was armed with a machete then proceeded to fatally hack Twebaze.  He later  rushed home where he found Birungi preparing supper and cut her into pieces. Mugisha also turned against Tukamushaba and Turyasingura as they tried to raise alarm to call for help.

Elly Maate, the police spokesperson for Kigezi region says police together with residents mounted a search for the suspect until he was found on Monday hiding in a bush in Kaharo parish.

Maate says the locals severely beat him up before he was apprehended and taken to Kaharo Police post, where he was removed later and taken to Kabale Central Police station as locals threatened to raze down the police post.

Later on as his health deteriorated, he was rushed to Kabale hospital where he succumbed to injuries on Wednesday afternoon.