A 26-year-old woman identified as Aisha Masibu was killed on Monday evening while attempting to separate her husband from two men during a fight in Kikindu Market, Mbale City.
Masibu, a market vendor, was reportedly struck on the head with a stone as she tried to intervene in a brawl involving her husband, a security guard at a nearby parking yard, and two men aged 19 and 24.
According to eyewitnesses, the altercation began after the suspects demanded to confront a client who allegedly owed them Shs2,000. When Masibu’s husband blocked them from entering the yard, a fight broke out. During the scuffle, one of the attackers allegedly hurled a stone that fatally hit Masibu.
After the incident, the suspects fled to their home in Kisenyi Cell, Nabuyonga Ward. Security officers, led by Mbale City Division Police Commanders SP Mubarak Sunday and SP Kenneth Bakashaba, surrounded the area to prevent an angry mob from lynching the suspects.
Elgon Region Police spokesperson Rogers Taitika confirmed the arrest of the two men, who are now in custody on murder charges. He urged the public to remain calm and avoid acts of mob justice. Taitika also reminded residents that criminal responsibility is individual and should not be used to justify destruction of property.
Local leaders identified one of the suspects as Yusuf, also known as “Fifty Fifty,” a man alleged to have a criminal history in the area. Nabiyonga Zone Security Secretary Seku Abdulkarim said Yusuf had recently completed a six-month prison sentence before returning to his old ways.
Mbale Assistant Resident City Commissioner Hussein Kadimba condemned the growing cases of violence linked to drug abuse among youths and urged parents to monitor their children closely.
Masibu’s body was taken to Mbale City Mortuary for a postmortem examination as investigations continue.
