Police in Mityana district have arrested and detained seven suspects who appeared in a video that went viral on social media while torturing and burning a woman with a lit Jerrycan have tied their victim with a rope.
The suspects who appears in the video were identified as James Lukiiko the prime suspect and former husband of the victim known as Kolodina Muhirwe 29, who according to the Wamala region Police spokesperson Racheal Kawala had separated having cohabited for six years.
Other suspects, include; James Kalanzi the area defense secretary Brian Lwabye the prime suspect’s son, Kiwanuka Steven the LC I vice chairperson ,Kezimbira George, Namusoke Betty who allegedly bought the rope all these are currently held at Mityana Police Station as further investigations into the matter continue.
The incident occurred on 28TH April 2024 at 0930hrs in Namuzikiza village, Watuba parish, Kikandwa sub-county in Mityana district. It’s alleged that the culprits grabbed Muhirwe had gone to pick food staffs from the gardens of her former husband only to fall victim of the perpetrators.
Kawala in a press statement she issued said that the couple had separated in January 2024 due to misunderstandings, leading the victim to leave behind her gardens including a banana plantation where she would usually go and gather food.
On April 28th at about 0800hrs, the victim had gone to pick food from the garden located in the Kibanja of her ex-husband, James Lukiiko after being grabbed, Namusoke Betty came with a rope and the culprits connived and tied the victim’s hands and legs, accusing her of stealing a pig.
The incident happened in the home of the area Chairperson, Kiwanuka Steven were many people gathered, lit a jerrican, and began burning the victim, demanding to know the whereabouts of the pig.
After the torture, the victim was dumped in a bush but later was rescued by a boda boda cyclist who took her to the police station where she reported the incident under CRB 155/2024.
A statement from the victim was recorded, and she was then taken to Namayumba Health Center IV for medical treatment.
“We remain committed to pursuing every incident of torture and ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to books.’’ Kawala said in the statement.