Police in Busoga East have arrested a defense secretary for torturing and murdering a suspect in Mayuge district.

The 20-year-old defense secretary who tortured to death a suspect (Ahamada Mwena) for trespassing in his home has been identified as Mutwalip Nadamba, a resident of Nkumiro village in Bumwena parish, Mayuge district.

While addressing the media during a weekly security briefing at the police headquarters in Naguru on May 13, 2024, the Uganda Police Force Spokesperson, SCP Fred Enanga, revealed that on April 27, 2024, Mwena was caught by Nadamba trespassing in his home, but after arresting him, he decided to beat and torture the suspect instead of taking him to the police.

Enanga added that when Nadamba saw that Mwena’s condition had worsened, he hurriedly called the police, and the victim was taken to Malongo Health Centre III in a very critical condition, where he later succumbed to the severe injuries he had sustained after eleven days.

’’It is really sad that local leaders who are supposed to promote the rule of law are breaking it and have shamefully betrayed the oath they swore as local leaders and instead participate in the mob violence, which is wrong,’’ Enanga said.

He further condemned the acts of impunity and mob mentality by local leaders and reminded them that they have a duty to safeguard residents within their jurisdictions without violating their civil rights.

Enanga said that the culprit is in police custody and will be charged with murder.