Police in Kitagwenda District are investigating the killing of an 18-year-old student whose body was found with multiple cut wounds in a coffee plantation.
The victim, Onesmus Alinda, a Senior Four student at Kitagwenda High School, was discovered in a plantation owned by local resident Sperio Taremwa.
According to police, the teenager suffered several deep cuts to his head, arms and legs.
Scovia Owembabazi, who found the body while harvesting vegetables in the plantation, said she immediately alerted nearby residents.
“I raised an alarm after seeing the body, and residents responded, but no one could immediately identify the deceased,” she said.
Residents said the victim was later identified by fellow students from Kitagwenda High School who arrived at the scene.
Jolly Kebirungi said the discovery triggered emotional reactions among the students.
“The students became emotional after learning about the death of their colleague. Some stormed nearby gardens, destroyed banana and coffee plantations, and burnt our house,” Kebirungi said.
The victim’s uncle, Emmanuel Ntamushobora, said the family first learnt of the incident through messages shared on WhatsApp before travelling to Ntara Health Centre IV mortuary to confirm the death.
“We received messages saying our child had been murdered and that his body was at Ntara Health Centre IV mortuary. We went there on Sunday to confirm, and indeed it was him,” Ntamushobora said.
He added that the family is demanding answers from the school administration, questioning how a student who was supposed to be in the boarding section left the school premises during the night.
Police spokesperson Vincent Twesige said two suspects had been arrested to assist with the investigation. They were identified as Robert Shabomujuni and Sperio Taremwa.
Investigations into the circumstances surrounding the student’s death are ongoing.
