Elgon Region Police spokesperson Rogers Taitika has confirmed the arrest of a male student from Manafwa District, who was apprehended while attempting to cross into Kenya after a fatal attack on June 12 in Busajabwankuba Cell, Namunsi Ward.
“The suspect was taken into custody following intensive investigations and remains under police detention as inquiries continue,” Mr. Taitika said in an official statement.
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Authorities believe the student was an accomplice of a 17-year-old who was killed by a mob shortly after the incident.
“The duo allegedly used a sharp panga to kill Nambuya around 11am,” Taitika noted.
Police say Nambuya was returning home from purchasing charcoal when the attackers demanded her phone. After she resisted, they reportedly hacked her in the neck and fled with the stolen device.
Residents quickly raised an alarm and managed to capture one of the suspects, who was found in possession of a blood-stained machete and the victim’s phone. Before police could intervene, the suspect was fatally beaten by the mob.
“The motive for the killing remains unclear, but the investigation has made substantial headway,” Mr. Taitika added.
The case file has been submitted to the resident state attorney for review, and the surviving suspect is expected to appear in court soon.
This incident has intensified concerns in Mbale City regarding the safety of youth, particularly girls, amid a rise in violent crimes.
In March, a 15-year-old girl was raped and strangled in a guesthouse, while in 2023, an 18-year-old student was found murdered and dumped in a pond.
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