By Ivan Mubiru
Police in Bukwo district have arrested three suspects who allegedly took part in the murder of a church priest.
Reverend Augustine Neto, 43, was early this week murdered by locals who mistook him for a cattle thief.
The three suspects that have been arrested are Alfred Chelop, Andrew Chesur, Peter Kiplungant .
It’s alleged that four residents of Kapukorosoi village in Bukwo including the priest used to send their cattle to East Elgon Forest to freely graze without anybody attending to them. They had information that there are people who are stealing their cattle from the forest and selling them.The four decided to go to the forest to verify the allegations whether it’s true or not. When they reached the forest they got cattle thieves and three of Rev. Augustine’s colleagues started chasing them while making an alarm. The Reverend opted to drive the animals back home.
The alarm his colleagues made attracted nine local residents armed with machetes who responded and on entering the forest; they met the Reverend driving the cattle and mistook him to be a cattle thief. They started beating, striped him naked and cut off his head and hid it.
When Reverend’s colleagues returned they met the nine and explained to them what had happened and they inquired whether they had seen him. The suspects expressed ignorance of the Reverend’s where about.
After realizing that, the locals in question may be having a hand in the reverend’s disappearance, a meeting was held at the trading center where evidence pinned all the 9 suspects.
The Locals accepted to work with the Police to arrest their fellow residents for the murder of Rev. Augustine thus arresting three suspects out of the nine.
The three suspects took Police to where they had hidden the head of the Reverend and it was recovered.
Do you have a story in your community or an opinion to share with us: Email us at editorial@watchdoguganda.com
