Kagadi massacre: How 10 family members died in a religious fight

Several other people, including neighbors who responded to the alarm, were injured. The attack occurred about three kilometers from Muzizi Shopping Center.

At the scene, the Daily Monitor found three houses, two of which belonged to men who were reported to have killed their parents, wives and children, and the third belonged to their father.

Village chairman Richard Mwanamolho said they heard an alarm from Yokononia Isakara’s house at around 9pm on Tuesday.

He said he and other villagers from Muzizi Shopping Center went home.

However, they were met by Obed Baguma (33) and David Munyirambe (36), who were armed with machetes, and denied them access to the premises.

According to Mr Mwanamolho, the two men started throwing stones, which forced the group, which included police officers, to retreat. On the way, he said, they discovered the body of Boniface Rogers Nyirambe with numerous wounds in a nearby bush.

He explained that Nyirambe, who lived near his father’s house, was attacked with a knife when he responded to the alarm.

He said their initial focus was on rescuing the injured and taking them to a health center, but they were unaware of the death toll at home.

“When they chased us with stones, we called the Kagadi DPC (district police commander) for reinforcements. In the morning (yesterday), the UPDF joined us and we went to Yokononia’s house. By the time we arrived, we encountered two suspects again, but this time we had the UPDF,” Mwanamolho said.

He added: “When the military tried to approach, the suspects threatened them with a panga, leading to a confrontation in which both suspects were shot and died on the spot.”

After reaching the suspects’ homes, the group found a pool of blood flowing from there. Inside, they discovered seven bodies, including those of Yokononia Isakara, 76, and his wife Norah Kabuwere, 64, and several of their grandchildren.

Jessy Masereka, Isakara’s son, said he survived because his home was some distance away.

He said he learned of the tragic events when some of the injured victims contacted him during the night, saying that their brothers had attacked them.

“I was at home when my neighbors came to me, a man and his wife, both with serious head wounds. They told me that my two brothers had injured them when they tried to respond to the alarm. Together with others, I took them to a nearby health facility for treatment,” Masereka explained.

Masereka said that for years his family members followed the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) denomination, whose church was located in the village of Muzizi.

However, about five years ago, his brothers Baguma and Munyirambe came into conflict with church leaders, accusing them of spreading false teachings.

He explained that the two began to openly confront church leaders and followers, forcing church leaders to report them to the police. They were eventually arrested and held in Kagadi prison, but were later released.

“After they were released, we thought they had changed. Instead, they continued to oppose our religion and decided to establish their own faith, although they had no followers. They held private meetings and pressured us to join, but we all refused,” Masereka recalled.

The village chairman, Mr Mwanamolho, confirmed that he had received numerous complaints from family members about being forced to join the brothers’ sect. He said he informed security authorities but no serious action was taken.

Mwanamolho said tree trunks were placed in the brothers’ house as symbols of worship. Yesterday they were confiscated by security staff.

Additionally, they had a flag in two colors – yellow and blue – with the inscriptions God, Holy Spirit, Son, Man, Man. Mwanamolho believes this may have been the name of their cult.

“I don’t agree with letting everyone start their own faith. Some are frauds who lead people astray. We need to regulate these places of worship,” Mwanamolho said.

He added: “The court and the police have also failed us. How can someone be arrested and then released when we, the village leaders, have advised him not to return to our community? Even if no one took the case to court, we had evidence. People like that should have stayed in prison.”

Abel Kule, Isakara’s younger brother, said the two sons threatened to kill their father and other family members for refusing to join their sect and cooperating with police, leading to their previous arrest.

He mentioned that about a year ago, both sons went to Bundibugyo District and got married. However, when their wives came to Kagadi, they too refused to join the sect and as a result, they divorced and since then both of them lived alone in their homes.

“These children, in addition to threatening to kill their parents, also behaved in a way that shocked the family. For example, they would buy a whole goat, kill it and eat it all themselves, without giving their father even a kilogram,” Kule said.

Alberta Regional Police spokesman Julius Hakiza said they and sister security agencies are investigating the incident.

“We are appealing to the public to provide any information regarding this incident. Your cooperation is crucial to bringing those responsible to justice,” he said.

As of press time, UPDF soldiers were guarding the entire village and the injured were being admitted to various health centers in Kagadi.

The deceased has been identified as Boniface Rogers Nyirambe; Yokononia Isakara, 76; Norah Kabuwere, 64; Praise Muhindo; Anitah Kabugho, 44; Masika Kabagenyi, 3; Ferdynand Bałuku, 13 years old; Olive Kabugo, 13; Obedi Baguma and David Munyirambe, 36. The injured were Rodgers Bwambale, Joy Bambu, Christine Biira, Deborah Kyakimwa, Julius Omuge, Elimusi Mukadelwa, Biira Birungi and one Kambale