Prominent Rotarian Kidnapped and Murdered in Mukono, Wife Rescued

A prominent official with Compassion International, Godfrey Wayengera, 45, was abducted and brutally murdered over the weekend by gunmen disguised in military uniforms. His body was discovered dumped by the roadside near a railway line in Namumira village, Mukono Central Division, sparking outrage and raising concerns about growing insecurity in the area.

Wayengera, a resident of Nsuube A village, was a respected figure in his community, serving as the director of Beloved Daycare and Nursery School, a Rotarian, and a church leader at St. Hannington Church of Uganda.

According to Kampala Metropolitan Police spokesperson Patrick Onyango, Wayengera and his wife, Najabi Christine, were returning from a burial in Mbale when they were intercepted by the assailants. The suspects, dressed in attire resembling Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) uniforms, falsely claimed they were escorting the couple to Mukono Police Station. Instead, they diverted them to Kyungu Road, where Wayengera was tragically killed.

His wife, Najabi Christine, was later abandoned in Jinja Misindye, Goma Division. She was rescued by Good Samaritans and is currently receiving treatment at Mukono General Hospital.

Police swiftly responded to the incident, recording witness statements and transferring Wayengera’s body to Mulago City Mortuary for a postmortem examination. Authorities also recovered the couple’s vehicle, a Toyota Fielder with registration number UBP 520A, from Jinja Misindye; it is now impounded at the police station. The perpetrators, however, remain at large, and investigations are actively ongoing.

Local leaders in Namumira village, including chairman Henry Lukomu and defence secretary Abdul Karim Tumusime, have attributed the escalating insecurity to the neglected and overgrown railway corridor. They stated that the railway company’s prohibition on farming near the tracks has led to dense bush, creating an ideal environment for criminal activity.

In Nsuube A village, local chairman Eric Ssemakula and defence secretary Warren Tusigwire recounted their frantic search for Wayengera after his wife raised the alarm. “His wife called me when he delayed reaching home. I alerted police, and the officer in charge of operations tracked their car, but the signal went cold around Iganga. We searched until 3 a.m., but found nothing. In the morning, we received the heartbreaking news that he had been murdered and dumped in Namumira,” Ssemakula shared.

Boda boda riders who frequently use the road, like David Luwalira, corroborated concerns about routine attacks on motorists. He urged authorities to install security cameras and clear the dense vegetation to deter crime.

Mukono Deputy Resident District Commissioner (RDC) Hassan Kasibante condemned the heinous murder and vowed to ensure that the perpetrators are apprehended and brought to justice. The community now awaits answers and demands increased security measures to prevent further tragedies.