Gunfire and teargas rocked Mwanjari ward in Kabale Municipality yesterday, as police engaged in running battles with locals who sought revenge on suspected murderers
The angry mob attacked people suspected to have killed Denis Kato Bamuhiga, a National Water and Sewerage Cooperation employee on Tuesday last week.
The deceased was waylaid by unidentified thugs at the Mwanjari Cemetery in Igabiro cell, Southern Division and hacked.
He was found in the morning by residents with multiple cuts on his head and neck and was rushed to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital where he died hours later.
The deceased had just arrived from Kampala where he worked, to attend the funeral of his friend Herbert Tumusiime.
Yesterday, at around 2pm locals got hold of a group of men who were camping in a swamp in Mwanjari, and suspected that they were the killers. They attacked the group and started beating them.
One of the suspects only identified only as Alex was burnt to death and his body dumped in River Kiruruma.
Other suspects Bosco Tumusiime, 19, Bruce Tukamushaba 20, and two other unidentified women were critically injured in the attack and are currently admitted at Kabale Hospital.
Anti-riot police led by the head of the Field Force Unit in Kabale, Henry Kisembo stormed the area to rescue the suspects.
Angry locals started pelting stones at police to release the suspects and in retaliation, Police fired live bullets and teargas to disperse them before whisking the suspects away.
Locals thereafter stormed Kabale police station with stones and sticks demanding for the release of the suspects so that they are killed, which compelled police to fight back.
Elly Maate, the Kigezi police spokesperson says police will hunt down and arrest the people that participated in the mob action.