Residents of Mugungu Village in Busia town are living in fear following the brutal killing of a Ugandan man by a machete-wielding gang from Kenya. The victim, Andre Lomilo Husim, was abducted from his home on September 6 and taken across the border by the gang. His body, bearing multiple stab wounds and abrasions, was discovered the next day by Kenyan police near Kiwanja-Ndege in Busia, Kenya. The body was later transported to the Busia-Kenya County Referral Hospital mortuary.
Mugungu Village, which lies near the border with Kenya, has several unmonitored routes that lead to Marachi Village on the Kenyan side, making it vulnerable to cross-border criminal activity. While some border checkpoints, such as those in Sofia and Marachi Villages, are manned by up to eight police officers, many porous routes are only overseen by local council officials, leaving the area exposed.
Busia District, which spans 57 kilometers along the Kenya border from Majanji to Malaba River, has around 200 porous routes, many of which are not adequately patrolled due to a shortage of security personnel. This has contributed to a rise in cross-border crimes, including the theft of motorcycles and the murder of boda boda riders.
Over the past two years, the district has seen a surge in violent crimes targeting boda boda riders. Since the start of this year, at least 10 boda boda riders have been killed, their motorcycles stolen.
Ms. Alice Kuka, the newly-appointed Busia District Police Commander, confirmed that she has been briefed on the rising crime rate, particularly the attacks on motorcycle riders. She also mentioned that several suspects have been arrested, charged in court, and remanded to prison. Ms. Kuka, in collaboration with the district security team, is developing strategies aimed at curbing the escalating criminal activities in the area.
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