Residents of Mutai Village along the Jinja-Kamuli Highway are living in fear after an unidentified man was found dead by the roadside.
The victim is suspected to have been a police officer, although police had not formally confirmed his identity by press time.
Residents heading to their gardens discovered the body early Friday morning.
The man was found lying in a pool of blood. A shattered helmet was also found near the body, attracting large crowds to the scene.
Police suspect night ambush
Preliminary police investigations indicate that unknown assailants may have ambushed the victim during the night.
Detectives suspect the attackers assaulted and robbed him before killing him.
Police said the victim’s motorcycle was missing from the scene.
During examination of the body, investigators recovered a Uganda Police Force T-shirt. This raised suspicion that the deceased could have been linked to the police.
However, no identification documents were found on him.
Investigators also noted that the victim was wearing multiple jackets at the time of his death.
Police recovered two wooden sticks near the body. The sticks are suspected to have been used in the attack.
Officers also found clothing items believed to belong to the assailants.
A sniffer dog was deployed to track the suspects, but no immediate breakthrough was reported.
Leaders warn of highway insecurity
The killing has renewed concern about violent crime along the Jinja-Kamuli Highway.
Local leaders said the Nsuube and Kagoma stretches have become especially dangerous.
They said criminals use the dark and forested sections near the road to target travellers.
“This place has become a death trap,” said Rajab Kakande, the Defence Secretary of Mutai Village. “Criminals hide in the forest and attack unsuspecting travellers along the highway. We have repeatedly raised concerns, and the stretch from Jinja Roundabout to Kamuli urgently needs increased security deployment.”
Boda boda riders who use the highway at night also expressed concern.
Salim Muwaata, the chairman of boda boda riders in Jinja District, said the area has become a criminal hotspot.
“Many riders now live in fear as attacks are becoming frequent, especially at night. We are calling for increased patrols to protect road users,” Muwaata urged.
Body taken for postmortem
The killing has left residents of Mutai Village shocked and worried about their safety.
Many questioned how such a violent attack could happen unnoticed along a busy highway.
By press time, police had taken the body to Buwenge Health Centre IV mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Police said efforts were underway to identify the deceased, establish whether he had any connection to law enforcement, and track down the suspects.