By URN
A 60-year-old man who went missing on Thursday has been found dead in a wetland with some body parts cut and taken.
Michael Kyarugahi, a resident of Rushebeya village in Kitojo-Nyarurambi parish, Rwamucucu sub-county went missing on Thursday evening, according to his wife Gorreti Katushabe.
Katushabe says that Kyarugahi left home for Rushebeya trading center for a social hour but never returned. On waiting in vain, Katushabe says that she reported the matter to Rushebeya police station as she launched a hunt with the help of neighbours.
Katushabe says that they were shocked on Saturday afternoon when Kyarugahi’s body was found in Kitaraaka wetland that connects Rwamucucu, Kashambya, and Bukinda sub counties a few meters from the trading center.
Eddie Mugisha, Rwamucucu sub county LC3 chairman says that they were terrified more after finding the deceased’s head and right arm cut off and taken. Mugisha says, as locals, they suspect that killers could have taken the parts for ritual purposes. Mugisha says that such a gruesome killing is the first in the sub county.
Elly Maate, police spokesperson for Kigezi region confirms the incident saying that the deceased’s body has been taken to Kabale regional referral hospital mortuary for postmortem as investigations into the matter as well efforts to hunt for the suspected assailants continyue.
The case is registered at Kabale police station under file number CRB 122/2023.
This is not the first time a person was killed and body parts taken in Kigezi region. In July 2020, Corporal Nabimanya Ambrose, a retired Uganda People’s Defense Forces-UPDF soldier and a resident of Kashegu village, Kahoko parish Nyakagyeme sub county in Rukungiri District was discovered killed and his private parts, one eye and the tongue taken.
In August 2021, the body of an unidentified man was found floating on river Kiruruma in Nyamurindira village, Muyebe Parish, Buhara sub county of Kabale district with the private parts cut off and taken.
