Panga wielding bandits return to Masaka

At least fifteen individuals have been hacked to death in the districts of Lwengo, Bukomansimbi, and Masaka, three years after they were halted by machete-wielding thugs.

Locals in many parts of greater Masaka have expressed dread and anguish as a result of the events. The organization known as Bijambiya was named for their style of killing with machetes, which began in 2016 and resulted in the deaths of over 30 people. In an effort to put an end to the killings in 2018, former IGP Gen. Kale Kayihura tented in the region to command a joint operation involving police and other sister security agencies, which led to the arrest of the machete-wielding gang’s ringleaders Muhamad Kiddawalime and Musa Galiwango.

“These are simply petty criminals, and we will capture them soon,” President Museveni remarked during a visit to Kisojo village in the Bukomansimbi district. They never say they want to kill, but when they break into a house, they hack the residents to death and then disappear without taking anything, including money.

Residents in Kamenyamiggo village, Kiingo Sub-County, Lwengo District, for example, describe how assailants assaulted them in 2018 and killed five people in a matter of hours.

The attackers ambushed the village in the early hours of the morning, swinging axes and pangas over the necks of whomever they found, according to Annet Namuddu, a local.

However, three years after Musa Galiwango’s arrest and the killing of Muhamad Kidawalime in a police operation at Resty Nakyambade’s Kalungu residence, a new gang of machete-wielding males has emerged. Kalya Vicent and Kabanda John, both retired UPDF officers, Dumba Joseph, a Mayira village resident, Kawesi Godrey, and Nkaka, both of Nakateete village in Lwengo district, are among those killed in recent attacks.

Critics have pointed out security flaws that could have allowed thieves to terrify Masaka once more.

Ibra Kitatta, the Lwengo LC5 chairman, has issued severe directives to all village leaders in the district in an effort to address the escalating criminality. Only nine individuals have died in the last two weeks, according to Greater Masaka regional police spokesperson Muhammad Nsubuga.

He blamed property disputes, interpersonal violence, and thievery for the fatalities.

However, Nsubuga stated that police and other security services had increased operations against the assailants.

He stated, “Foot and motor patrols will be a daily ritual.”

He did, however, mention problems such as people hiding information about the perpetrators, which he claims has hampered police investigations into these crimes.