Police in Fort-portal City and Kabarole district have so far arrested 12 suspects who are linked to the murder of an assistant medical officer from Kagadi that occurred in Fort Portal City.
While addressing the weekly security presser on Monday the 5th December 2022, ASP Luke Oweyisigire the Kampala Metropolitan Police Spokesperson stated that Rutabagisha Paul Bahizi a 53-year-old District Health Officer at Kagadi district was killed on 25th November 2022.
According to ASP Oweyisigire, Paul was from a workshop in Masaka and had passed via Fort Portal on his way to Kyegegwa district for another workshop. He branched at Total petrol station in Fort Portal to withdraw four jerrycans of fuel to facilitate his movement but there was no fuel.
Rwenzori West Region Police spokesperson, Vincent Twesige revealed that Rutabagisha was attacked by thugs who must have seen him withdraw cash at the petrol station.
“It is believed that there was an exchange of cash that was made so they paid him 750,000 Uganda shillings which he had on him in addition to the 900,000 Uganda shillings which he had from the workshop in Masaka,” Twesige said.
According to Police, they managed to obtain private CCTV footage from the neighborhood and tracked down 12 suspects who were arrested based on the footage.
“Paul boarded a motorcycle that we are still tracking about 20 minutes past midnight to transport him to the direction of Mpanga where he stays but unfortunately his body was found dumped the following day at Kabarole mosque,” Oweyisigire said.
The arrested include Tusiime Patrick, Muhumuza Patrick, Muhereza Nicholas, Isma Brian, Mugume Herbert, Bwambale Boaz (security guard), Songwa Teopista, (business woman of Ntangwa), Tugume James who is a ring leader of that group that has been trailing pedestrians on foot and people on boda bodas, home robberies and attacks.
The other people arrested include; Mbabazi Mathew, Rwankore Herbert, Nyakojo Jonathan, all residents of Fort Portal city.
Police assured the management of Kagadi district where the deceased worked and the relatives that they are doing everything within their means to consolidate the evidence surrounding the suspects and have them charged for the murder.
