Kimwani councillor murdered

Muleba. The Kimwani Ward councillor of Muleba District in Kagera, Sylvester Muliga (CUF), was hacked to death by unknown people at his home on Sunday night.

Mr Muliga died around at 01:00 am while receiving treatment at Kagondo District Hospital, Muleba. Muleba District executive director Joseph Mkude confirmed the death.

Kyota Village chairman David Luma said men armed with swords and other traditional weapons, attacked the councillor at his home at around 08:00 pm, injuring him severely before disappearing.

“The people forced the late Muliga’s children to open the door, and immediately after they had done so, they slashed Muliga on the head with swords,” said Luma .

Muleba District Police boss Salvas Makweli said police were holding one person for questioning in connection with the incident. .

“A manhunt is underway to track down all people whose names have been given to the law enforcers as suspects,” he said.

Kagera Regional Police boss Augustine Ollomi could not be reached for comment yesterday.

Sources have told The Citizen that some police officers have hinted that, Mr Muliga’s fate could have been the culmination of a contract killing.

According to a source, some politicians and businessmen may have paid the murderers.

“The arrested suspect told the police that the killers were hired for Sh1.5 million for carrying out the assignment and had been given Sh150,000  in advance,” the source hinted.

Chairman of the coalition of political parties, Ukawa in Muleba District, Alhaj Khalid Hussein, a councillor for Kasharunga Ward, condemned the killing, stressing that thorough investigations should be conducted and the perpetrators booked.

He linked the killings with politics, saying that the deceased had made enemies due to his commitment to defending people’s rights and insistence on proper expenditure of development funds since his election in 2010.

The killing is also believed to be a pre-emptive move, as Mr Muliga was due to present a report to a full council meeting on Friday, which, among other things, would raise queries on why a small group of people in Muleba District were holding large tracts of land.

"At the session of the Committee on Economic and Environment of January 15, we decided and agreed to propose the formation of a commission of inquiry on land conflicts in Muleba,” said Kasharura Ward councillor Khalid Swalehe also from the Civic United Front (CUF)

He said the private land motion was already discussed and approved by members from the opposition camp and the deceased was appointed to submit it at the coming full council, set for February 5th.

“I was also appointed to assist the late Muliga during the presentation because our wards are the most affected by land conflicts,” revealed Mr Swalehe.