KASSANDA DISTRICT: 08 JULY 2026— Detectives have recovered the decomposing body of a missing woman, confirming a double homicide following a brutal midnight raid on a farm estate in Kassanda district.
The grim discovery ends a week-long manhunt for Mariza Regina, whose husband was found slaughtered in a coffee garden six days prior.
The tragedy unfolded on the night of July 2, 2026, in Lukira village, Myanzi sub-county. An unspecified number of armed robbers breached a residence occupied by 48-year-old Joseph Ssali and his wife, Mariza Regina. The couple were employed as caretakers for a local farm owned by a resident identified as Mr. Lukwago, managing his livestock and gardens.
The crime came to light the following morning when neighbors noticed Lukwago’s cattle wandering unattended through village gardens. Disturbed by the unusual sight, residents alerted the area chairperson, Sulaiman Kakinda, who mobilized a search party to check on the caretakers.
Upon arriving at the homestead, the search team discovered signs of forced entry and a violent struggle inside the house, marked by heavy pooling of blood. Following a trail of blood leading from the house into a nearby coffee plantation, the residents discovered the body of Ssali Joseph.
According to police reports, the attackers utilized blunt and sharp weapons, suspected to be hammers and machetes (pangas), to execute the victim.
The Hunt for Regina
While Ssali was pronounced dead at the scene, his wife remained missing. Initial forensic attempts to track the assailants using a police canine were unsuccessful due to delays in introducing the dog to the scene. Preliminary tracking indicated that the gang utilized motorcycles to transport their loot and escape.
The hunt concluded on the morning of July 8, 2026, at approximately 7:30 AM. An intensified joint search by local residents and police officers led to the discovery of Regina’s decomposing body in the neighboring village of Kyaseta. The attackers had buried her halfway in a garden, far from the initial crime scene.
Investigation and Motive
Authorities have confirmed that the attack was a case of aggravated robbery, though investigators noted the extreme violence suggests a malice that went beyond mere economic gain. The robbers fled the scene with an undisclosed sum of money, seven sacks of harvested coffee, and Regina.
Wamala Regional Police Public Relations Officer, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) L. Kigozi, reassured the public that hunting down the perpetrators remains a top priority.
”Everything possible is being done by our detectives to apprehend the suspects who were behind this horrific act, which has caused fear and grief to our people in Lukira village and the entire Kassanda district,” Kigozi stated.
Investigations remain active as forensic teams process both scenes.