A 70-year-old woman on Wednesday night became the latest victim of panga-wielding goons in the Masaka region.
Masaka Regional Police Commander Paul Nkore confirmed that Annet Nampijja a resident of Kasaali village within Masaka City was killed around midnight by the goons wreaking havoc in the region.
She becomes the 19th person to be killed under mysterious circumstances by the gang whose motives remain unknown.
Nampiija’s killing followed similar Monday night raids by machete-wielding thugs who raided Ssettaala village in Ssenya parish, in Kimaanya-Kabonera division in Masaka City and killed three people leaving another badly wounded.
The dead include Sulaiman Kakooza, 56, Kizza Luswa, 50, and Dan Kiyimba, 38. Another resident Ronald Ssebyoto, 25, is still admitted in critical condition at Masaka Regional Referral Hospital.
On Tuesday, Brigadier Deo Sande, the commander of the Masaka Armoured Brigade said the army had joined operations with Police to hunt down the gangs in the region.
The Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence (CMI), Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force and the Internal Security Organisation also joined the hunt for the assailants.
Masaka Region Police Spokesperson Muhammed Nsubuga noted they had arrested 36 suspects in Lwengo over the attacks and that the investigations had also stretched to Bukomansimbi and Kalungu districts.
“The assailants have caused panic among residents but the Police will do whatever is in their powers to pursue the criminals,” Nsubuga said. He noted that the assailants use pangas and other blunt objects to kill innocent people.
This is not the first time panga related killings are happening within the region.
The group popularly known as Bijambiya caused untold suffering in the region of Masaka in 2016 killing several people, forcing the former Inspector General of Police Gen. Kale Kayihura to carry out a series of operations which led to the arrest of Muhammed Kidawalime and Musa Galiwango who were believed to be the ring leaders of the gang.
Kidawalime was killed in a Police operation, however, the interest of the current gang remains unclear even though the Police attributes it to land wrangles in the region.
