Police hunt for suspects in Nakaseke farm attack

NAKASEKE - Police in Nakaseke have launched a public appeal for information that will help in bringing to book unknown people who attacked a private farm and vandalised property worth millions of shillings.

Police said Wednesday that the January 26, 2025, incident also resulted in injuries to staff of the farm, identified as belonging to an individual called Mayinja.

Savannah Region police spokesperson Sam Twiineamazima said in a statement that preliminary investigations show that the incident happened at around 2:00 pm at Katale Kamese parish, Kito sub-county in Nakaseke district, causing some of the farm staff to flee the farm.

He said the assailants attacked with pangas and sticks while the farm workers were asleep.

“The invaders went ahead and set ablaze four makeshift tents and four motor vehicles, including a Canter Elf Reg no. UAM 252Q, Pajero reg no. UAS 044J and one tractor, which was burnt beyond recognition,” he said.

He added that a bulldozer was also damaged, and fuel of an unspecified quantity, along with other valuable properties, was looted.

He revealed that a case of arson and malicious damage was registered, and those injured were taken to hospital for treatment. He added that they also recorded relevant statements from witnesses as they hunt for suspects for prosecution.

Incidents such as the above are not uncommon in Nakaseke. In 2016, an investigation carried out by New Vision found that this is because much of the area is sparsely populated and is home to many farms, some of which belong to highly connected people.

The investigation revealed that one individual can have as much as a square kilometre of land.

In May 2016, police arrested four suspects after two people were kidnapped and later died in captivity at the hands of their captors.

The then Savannah Regional Police commander, Julius Caesar Katusigwire, told New Vision that one of the victims was killed to eliminate evidence of murder following a suspected killing at one of the farms in Wakyato Sub-county in Nakaseke.