Was It Planned By ‘Security’ Or? Alleged Mastermind Behind The Recent Attacks In Bundibugyo That Left Many People Dead Named
Authorities have identified Asuman Muganzi Mikirani, a resident of Kakukha II Village, Sindila Subcounty, as the alleged mastermind behind the deadly attacks that rocked Bundibugyo District last Saturday morning. The attacks targeted military detachments and left several people dead, including soldiers and civilians, while causing widespread destruction in the local communities.
According to the police report (Bundibugyo CRB 617/2025), Mikirani allegedly recruited attackers from Bundibugyo and neighboring Kagadi districts under the guise of renovating his shrine on October 26, 2025. The attackers were reportedly administered charms at the shrine and later sent to carry out the assaults under the leadership of Mikirani’s son.
The attackers were armed with guns, pangas, and catapults. Their first target was the Malindi military detachment at around 3:00 a.m., where Private Samuel Kwesiga (RA 306897) was killed after being shot and hacked on the head.
Private Erias Twongyirwe (RA 307056) sustained a broken leg, while a civilian woman, Nayebare Annitah from Rukungiri, also lost her life. The detachment was set on fire before the attackers moved to Kakukha, about three kilometers away.
At Kakukha, security forces engaged the attackers, neutralizing two of them. One of these attackers was identified by locals as Biteyo Herizon, a Congolese national who had been living in Ndugutu Butama, Bundibugyo, and trading livestock in Congo for over 12 years. The assailants also burned 26 of 31 grass-thatched houses, destroyed a PK and an AK-47, and stole a 12.5mm weapon.
Authorities have captured fifteen attackers alive, including one female and two juveniles aged 12 and 14. The suspects range in age from 12 to 82 and come from districts including Bundibugyo, Kagadi, Kasese, and Kampala. Among those detained are Baluku Kakoko (28), Birere Edison (36), Maate Isaac (42), Agaba Dauda (31), Masereka Ayubu (12), and Kabugho Marry (14). Nine of the suspects are held at Bundibugyo Central Police Station, while six are at Muhoti Mountain Division headquarters.
The injured soldier, Private Twongyirwe, is receiving medical treatment at Muhoti Mountain Division Hospital, while the bodies of the deceased have been taken there for post-mortem examinations. Investigators have documented the scenes through the Scenes of Crime Office (SOCO), and forensic analysis of recovered exhibits is ongoing.
The local community has been left shaken and traumatized, with multiple casualties and significant property damage reported. Many residents are struggling to come to terms with the violence, which disrupted their lives and destroyed homes.
Police have called for calm as investigations continue. Authorities have pledged to bring all perpetrators to justice and ensure that security measures in the district are strengthened to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Bundibugyo attacks are a stark reminder of the ongoing security challenges in the region, highlighting the need for vigilance and cooperation between communities and security forces to maintain peace and protect civilians.
