Jinja: In a major breakthrough on Sunday, the Kiira Regional Police Command arrested five suspects in connection with the murder of 60-year-old Swaibu Katongole, a resident of Jinja City.
The swift and diligent efforts of the police have brought relief to the family and friends of the deceased, who were left devastated by the brutal crime.
The arrest of the prime suspect, Sedrick Lukwago, 21, and his four accomplices is a testament to the effectiveness of the police’s investigative work.
“This suspect was working as a casual laborer at the deceased’s home,” said SP James Mubi, Kiira regional police spokesperson.
Mr. Mubi told Busoga Today that “Katongole was murdered on December 10, 2024, at his home. Lukwago confessed to killing his boss using a piece of cloth and a sharp stick after he conspired with his colleagues.”
Allegations suggest that prior to the gruesome murder, uncontrolled and bitter quarrels erupted between the deceased and the suspect. Lukwago accused his boss of influencing his wife’s decision to terminate his services as a shamba boy.
He was reportedly fired on grounds of incompetence, indiscipline, failure to show remorse, and threatening violence against Katongole.
It is said that the guilt burden continued to disturb Lukwago while he was in hiding in Lugazi Municipality, Buikwe District. He later relocated to Nakaseke District, where he started working as a store manager at Abubaker Technical Services, a technical quarry in the rural district.
“Due to intensified tracking of the prime suspect, he was arrested alongside his brother, Emmanuel Lukwago,” Mr. Mubi added.
According to Mubi, Lukwago had allegedly taken some exhibits of evidential value to his brother, Emmanuel Lukwago, to be transported to their mother in Sironko District. The regional police intelligence team and detectives, however, proceeded to recover the items, which had been picked at the scene by the prime suspect.
The police’s use of advanced forensic technology to link the suspects to the crime scene is a significant milestone in the fight against crime. This achievement demonstrates the police’s commitment to using cutting-edge methods to ensure justice is served.
The other three apprehended suspects include Robert Kyagulanyi, a 23-year-old, Denis Ssempebwa, a 19-year-old, who were employed by the late Katongole’s wife at their restaurant located along Main Street in Jinja City, and Bernard Mukasa, a boda-boda rider.
“Advanced forensic technology places all five suspects at the scene of the crime,” Mubi emphasized.
According to SSP Johnson Monday, Regional CID, the use of forensic technology has been instrumental in solving complex crimes. “We are committed to using every tool at our disposal to ensure that justice is served,” he said.
The community has welcomed the news, praising the police for their tireless efforts to keep the city safe. The successful resolution of this high-profile case is a reassuring reminder that the long arm of the law will always catch up with those who commit crimes.
The police have urged the public to continue cooperating with them to prevent and solve crimes, saying that together, they can build a safer and more just society.
