National • 21 December 2025

Seven Held for Killing S.3 Student in Rukiga

Meanwhile, the head teacher of Kihanga Secondary School, Onesmus Rukundo Rurihoona, described the killing as unfortunate and regrettable. He attributed the incident to rising cases of hooliganism among teenagers in the area, citing widespread marijuana smoking and alcoholism.

Police in Rukiga District are holding seven suspects in connection with the killing of a 17-year-old Senior Three student of Kihanga Secondary School.

The deceased has been identified as Edward Mugarura, the son of Deodanta Tumuhimbise, a resident of Nyakatugunda Village in Nyarurambi Parish, Rwamucucu Sub-county, Rukiga District.

According to police, Mugarura was at the bar of Gerald Ampumuza in Sindi, Mparo Town Council, on December 16, 2025, where he had gone drinking alcohol with others. At around 10:00 p.m., he left the bar and started walking home.

Ampumuza said that shortly after Mugarura left, a group of youths who were smoking cigarettes and riding a motorcycle followed him. Mugarura did not reach home, triggering panic among family members who began searching for him.

A day later, his body was discovered lying by the roadside in Nyakatugunda Village. Police said the body had visible bruises on the back and a swollen head, suggesting that the deceased had been severely beaten.

The Kigezi Regional Police Spokesperson, Elly Maate, said that with the help of a police sniffer dog, officers were led to one suspect about two kilometres from the crime scene. The suspect later guided police to the arrest of six more individuals believed to be connected to the killing.

Maate added that the suspects, whose identities have been withheld to avoid jeopardising ongoing investigations, are currently detained at Rukiga Police Station as inquiries continue.