A small community in Kachabali village in Pallisa district is in shock. Early this morning, at about 3 a.m., a 67-year-old man was attacked and killed in his house. His younger brother is believed to be the murderer.
Peter Wandeka and his brother Wilberforce Magino have been involved in a long-standing conflict over the ownership of family land. The Pallisa District Police Commander, Amos Gumukiriza, says witnesses to the murder saw Magino and two other men force their way into Peter Wandeka's home last night. He says the suspects cut Wandeka on the head with a machete and chopped off his right hand. They also sliced open his stomach and almost severed his left arm.
An alarm was raised and Wandeka was rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Officer Gumukiriza says the police have arrested Wandeka's brother, Wilberforce Magino and a second suspect called Moses Bwokino. He says the third suspect, Peter Mulekwa, is still on the run.
Gumukiriza says the number of murders resulting from land conflicts is on the rise in Pallisa district. He says that from May this year seven land-related murder cases have been reported in Pallisa. It is believed that there are other cases that have not yet come to the attention of the police.
