KAMPALA- Old- Kampala Police Division is holding a prime suspect in the murder of a boda-boda rider in Kawala who was hacked to death in his house and motorcycle taken.
The deceased identified as Julius Muyanja, a resident of Kawala in Lubaga Division, was tragically killed in his home over the weekend. He was fatally attacked with a sharp object, and his motorcycle was stolen by the assailant, who then fled the scene over the weekend.
According to Police Spokesperson Kituuma Rusoke, the main suspect, Tony Semuyaba, was arrested with the assistance of a police canine unit. The sniffer dog tracked the scent to Semuyaba’s residence in Kasubi, revealing a surprising twist: the suspect is the brother of the deceased, Julius Muyanja.
Despite the suspect’s denial of involvement in the murder, a search of his home today yielded incriminating evidence. Homicide officers discovered a hammer buried in his room and clothing stained with blood, potentially linking him to the crime.
The suspect is currently being held at the Old-Kampala Police Division on murder charges, awaiting a court appearance. Rusooke has highlighted the crucial role of preserving crime scenes and timely reporting of cases in achieving successful investigations.
“Effective preservation of crime scenes and prompt reporting to the police are crucial factors in solving murder cases,” said Rusooke. “Our canine units have played a significant role in arresting suspects and recovering evidence. We urge the public to avoid tampering with crime scenes, as this collaboration between the community and law enforcement has led to successful investigations and apprehension of many criminals.” He added.
Isaac Kyiyemba, a motorcycle taxi operator at the old-Kampala boda-boda stage, noted that there has been a surge in the killing of boda-boda riders by thieves seeking to steal their motorcycles.
“Many of our colleagues have been killed in the same way either on the road or even at home. But this trend is because of the high demand for Bajaj-Boxer motorcycles, which now have a market value of over 6 million Uganda shillings; this is making them a lucrative target for criminals” Kyiyemba said.
The acts of rampant boda-boda murders in 2019-2020, so at least 20 Boda-boda riders killed. Promoted the joint security operations in Kampala Metropolitan areas that saw more than two dozens of suspected killers arrested, giving a sign of relief in the past few years.
