Police have named 15 people as prime suspects in the Masaka murders.

After screening 68 arrested people, the joint security agencies probing the widespread murders in greater Masaka have named 15 major suspects.

Since July 21, at least 26 individuals have been slain in Masaka and Lwengo districts with machetes, clubs, and other blunt items.

Six of the 15 suspects are linked to Masaka city murders, while nine others are linked to Lwengo killings, according to Commissioner of Police Fred Enanga, who presented the joint statement to journalists.

Kawalya Yazid, Sserwadda Mike, Muwonge Jude, Kibedi Yowana, Nakakawa Sylvia, and Jjemba Francis have been identified as suspects in the Masaka killings. According to police, the organization established the first cell in Masaka’s Kimanya-Kabonero division.

Enanga added, “These six suspects are related to hacking and killing nine persons in Masaka.” “They confessed to the act and told us that they are members of a larger criminal organization, but their cell was based in Kabonero division.”

Mukasa Idrisa, a resident of Kikungwe, Mugerwa Francis alias Kizza, a resident of Setala village, Kakooza Sulaiman, a resident of Senya, Nampijja Muhangaza, 78, a resident of Kasali, Yeye Peter, a resident of Bisanje village, Mulindwa Mad 44, a resident of Kiteredde, and Nakato Maria, a

So far, the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF), Crime Intelligence and Crime Investigations Directorate (CID) have teamed up to track down the assailants.

Kibirango John Bosco alias Boy, Sewankabo Muhammad, Namata Justine, Sebunya Issa, Ngabirano Sebastiano, Kabayo Henry, Mutabazi Baptist, Kaganda Moses, and Kayebula Joseph are the nine suspects in the Lwengo district killings, according to Enanga.

Security has linked the nine Lwengo suspects to the July 21, 2021 murders of Kabanda John and Kalya Vincent, who were among the first victims. Kibirango John Bosco, Ssegawa Muzafaru, and Ssewankambo Muhammad are said to have butchered Kabanda and Kalya.

The suspects allegedly killed Nkaka Joseph, 51, and Kaweesi Godfrey, both inhabitants of Nakalete village, on July 31st, according to security. On August 2nd, they hacked Bwanika Joseph, a Kiseka village resident, and on August 4th, they hacked Ddumba Joseph Lutakome, and on August 12th, they hacked Lubega Aramanzani.

Sowedi Kayemba was killed on August 15th in Mpumudde village, Ibrahim Sebwaana was killed on August 16th in Byangiri village, Galiwango Paul and Mande were killed in Nasiti-Ndagwe village, Mbazira Richard was hacked in Kyambogo village, Nantale Joyce was hacked in Kasana parish, Bukenya Fred, Kilembwe Henry, 80, and Lusiina

Enanga explained, “There are three cells.” “One is based in Lwengo’s Bukoto South and the other in Kimanya Kabonera. There’s a new cell that’s still going strong. The characteristics of these perpetrators are still being pursued by our joint task force of operational officers and investigative teams.”

According to Fred Egesa, a security specialist, the killings of Masaka and Lwengo indicate a strained relationship between the community and the police. Because locals are always the first line of intelligence, Egesa claims that if there was a healthy public-security interaction, that group would be easy to neutralize.

This is the third time the bigger Masaka areas have been attacked with machetes. Thirteen persons were killed in the most recent murders, which occurred at the end of 2018 and early 2019. However, 26 individuals have died as a result of this wave.

Security is also a problem, according to Egesa, possibly because the personnel who dealt with past problems were all transferred and didn’t leave any documents that could serve as a starting point.