KISORO — Police have arrested six people, including four lodge employees and a police officer, in connection with the fatal shooting of Barbra Nassozi Kiyaga, the founder and executive director of Deaf Link Uganda. Kiyaga was shot dead at about 2am on Thursday, November 5, when armed assailants attacked Mucha Lodges along the Mutolere-Nyundo road near Lake Mulehe in Kisoro District.
The attackers reportedly exchanged gunfire with security personnel deployed at the premises before Kiyaga was found with multiple gunshot wounds. Preliminary reports indicate that she was shot about seven times and died at the scene. Her body was taken to Kisoro Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
A police officer attached to the lodge, Constable Charles Mukesi, was also shot in the left leg during the incident. He was rushed to Kisoro Hospital, where he is receiving treatment in stable condition.
Kisoro Deputy Resident District Commissioner Dan Ndikumwami confirmed the arrests on Saturday, saying those detained include four lodge workers, a tour guide and a police officer.
He said the suspects were picked up to assist investigators in reconstructing the events surrounding the attack and establishing the identities of those responsible.
“The arrested people will help the police to investigate the matter and possibly help in identifying the assailants,” Ndikumwami said.
He added that security officials had met residents living near the lodge on Saturday morning and asked them to submit names of people suspected of involvement in criminal activities for further verification.
Ndikumwami said he had also used radio talk shows to urge landlords to register their tenants and called on local council chairpersons and sub-county leaders to report suspicious individuals to security agencies.
He appealed to residents to remain calm as investigations continue. Kigezi regional police spokesperson Nelson Tumushime said police had opened cases of murder by shooting and attempted murder.
He said security agencies had launched an operation to track down the attackers and increased deployments in the area to protect residents and tourists.Although police have not established an official motive, preliminary suspicion points to a possible robbery targeting guests at the lodge.
Kiyaga, a Kampala resident, had checked into Mucha Lodges on Wednesday and booked a four-day stay. She founded Deaf Link Uganda in 2007 as a community-based organisation before it later attained non-governmental organisation status. The organisation works to improve access to education, livelihoods and social inclusion for deaf and hard-of-hearing people across Uganda.
Her killing has renewed concerns about security in Kisoro, a border district that attracts visitors travelling to Bwindi and Mgahinga national parks.
The incident comes less than three weeks after businessman Africano Nteziyaremye and his wife, Peace Kyompeire, were shot dead on October 17 at the entrance to their home in Zindiro, Kisoro Municipality, as they returned from their wholesale shop.
No arrests have been announced in connection with that double killing.
Police have appealed to members of the public with information about the lodge attack to come forward and assist investigators in identifying and apprehending the suspects.
