By eastafrican gazette
An LC1 Chairman and six other people have been detained in connection with the aggravated torture that took place in Namuzikiza village, Watuba parish, Kikandwa sub-county, Mityana district.
The suspects were caught after a video of the torture incident circulated on numerous social media platforms.
The incident occurred on April 28, 2024, at approximately 0930 hours.
The suspects include Steven Kiwanuka, James Lukiiko, George Kezimbira, Brian Lwabye, Betty Namusoke, and others.
Racheal Kawala, the police spokesperson for the Wamala Police Region, named the victim as Kolodina Muhirwe, a 29-year-old bar attendant and inhabitant of the same area.
It is claimed that the victim was previously married to James Lukiiko for six years but the couple was unable to have children together.
According to the facts acquired, the couple separated in January 2024 owing to misunderstandings, which caused the victim to abandon her gardens and banana plantation, where she would normally return to gather food.
Kawala stated that on April 28, 2024, at approximately 0800hrs, the victim went to the garden to harvest food from her ex-husband James Lukiiko’s land (kibanja), when Lukiiko phoned his son, Lwabye who also alerted James Kalanzi, the area defense officer of Namuzikiza village.
Kalanzi is reported to have arrived with one Betty Namusoke, who is said to have brought a rope and allegedly bound the victim’s hands.
Kalanzi is claimed to have arrived with Betty Namusoke, who brought a rope and allegedly tied the victim’s hands and legs while accusing her of stealing a pig.
The incident is said to have happened at the residence of the area Chairperson, Steven Kiwanuka.
“Many people gathered, lit a jerrycan, and began burning the victim, demanding to know the whereabouts of the pig. After the torture, the victim was dumped in a bush but was later rescued by a boda boda cyclist who took her to the police station where she reported the incident under CRB 155/2024,” Kawala noted.
She said the victim recorded a statement before being taken to Namayumba Health Center IV for medication.
She stated the accused are being kept at Mityana Police Station as the investigation continues.
Kawala noted that the police are committed to investigating every case of torture and bringing the culprits to justice.