Mob Killing in Kyankwanzi After Discovery of Human Remains Sparks Fear

Kyankwanzi District Uganda, March 21, 2026 - Tensions are high in central Uganda’s Kyankwanzi District after two men suspected to be Rwandan nationals were killed by an angry mob following the discovery of human body parts in their home. The incident occurred on March 20 in Kiryanongo village, Bananywa, where residents reportedly forced their way into the house of the two men, identified as Semasaka and Hakiza Damascene, after noticing a strong, foul odor coming from the premises. According to local accounts, villagers conducted a search of the house and discovered dismembered body parts believed to belong to a woman from Nakabugo village who had been reported missing several days earlier. Some of the remains were allegedly found in a bag inside the residence. The discovery triggered outrage among residents, who then turned on the two men, beating them to death before authorities could intervene. Local leaders alerted police shortly after the killings. Officers from Bananywa Police Station, along with district-level investigators, were deployed to the scene to begin inquiries into both the suspected murder and the mob violence. Luke Kigozi, the police spokesperson for Wamala Region, condemned the incident, stressing that the law must take its course. He confirmed that investigations are underway into the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, as well as the mob action that led to the killing of the two suspects. The bodies of the two men and the deceased woman have been transported to Ntwetwe Health Center for post-mortem examinations as part of the ongoing investigation. Authorities have urged residents to refrain from taking justice into their own hands, warning that such actions undermine the rule of law and complicate criminal investigations.