A shocking incident occurred on the night of January 21, 2025, in Kigugo Village, Buhara Sub County, Kabale District, when 60-year-old peasant Kawiti Africano was brutally murdered by three family members over a land dispute.
The suspects, Mwesigwa Rashid, Turinawe Beda, and Niwagaba Nicholas, were arrested following the crime, which has left the local community in shock.
According to a report filed by Tibamanya Paul, the area LC1 Chairperson, the dispute started in 2023 when Mwesigwa Rashid sold a 40x90ft piece of land to the deceased for UGX 4,000,000. The sale, however, caused tension within Rashid’s family, who questioned why the land was sold for such a low price.
The family demanded that the land be returned, or the deceased be compensated with another plot. When Kawiti refused, the family resorted to threats and violence to reclaim the land.
On January 21, 2025, Turinawe Beda and Niwagaba Nicholas confronted Kawiti, demanding that he vacate the land.
They threatened to kill him if he refused to comply. Distressed, Kawiti reported the threats to Mwesigwa Rashid and asked him to intervene. Despite this, Kawiti’s life was tragically taken later that night.
The body was discovered by a neighbor, Abe Julius, who immediately alerted the area chairperson.
Police from Buhara Police Station, led by the District CID officer of Kabale, responded to the scene. Using a canine dog, the officers were able to trace the suspects directly to their homes, where they were swiftly arrested.
Upon investigation, it was revealed that Kawiti had been involved in a long-standing land dispute with the suspects.
His body showed signs of trauma, including bruises and internal bleeding, indicating he had been violently assaulted before his death.
Kigezi region police spokesperson, Elly Maate says the police have since documented the scene, recorded statements from witnesses, and conducted a postmortem examination.
Maate says that the three suspects remain in police custody, while investigations continue into the case.
This brutal murder highlights the severe consequences of unresolved land disputes and the dangers of using violence to settle disagreements. Authorities have assured that the suspects will be held accountable for their actions as investigations continue.
