Residents said the couple had been employed by a businessman from Mubende District to look after his farm, which comprises coffee and banana plantations, as well as goats and pigs.
Police in Kassanda District have launched investigations and intensified a manhunt for unknown assailants who brutally murdered an elderly couple before fleeing with seven sacks of coffee.
According to Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, ASP Lameck Kigozi, the victims have been identified as Joseph Ssali, 70, and his wife, Regina Maliza, 68, both residents of Lukira Village in Myanzi Sub-county.
Kigozi said the attackers hacked the couple to death before stealing seven sacks of coffee from the farm.
Preliminary investigations indicate that on Saturday night, Ssali noticed the intruders and attempted to flee for safety. However, the assailants reportedly pursued him, caught up with him and repeatedly hacked him, killing him instantly.
His body was discovered on Sunday morning by residents heading to work. Locals said that after confirming he was dead, the attackers stripped him naked and took away his clothes. Police later visited the scene, documented evidence and cleared the family to proceed with the burial.
At the time of Ssali’s burial, his wife, Maliza, was still missing despite efforts by residents to trace her.
The search came to a tragic end on Wednesday when residents discovered what appeared to be a shallow grave with a pair of human legs protruding from the soil. Police were alerted and, upon exhumation, the body was identified as Maliza.
Residents said the couple had been employed by a businessman from Mubende District to look after his farm, which comprises coffee and banana plantations, as well as goats and pigs.
They suspect the attackers may have targeted the coffee and killed the couple after they recognised them, before attempting to conceal the crime by burying Maliza’s body.
Kigozi confirmed that investigations into the double murder are underway. He said detectives recovered several exhibits from the crime scene, which police hope will help identify and apprehend those responsible.
No arrests had been made by press time.
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