By Eddie Ssejjoba
The Police in Rubanda district in western Uganda were on Thursday, August 11, investigating circumstances under which a bar owner reportedly followed his client to another bar and assaulted him over failure to clear his bills.
The client, who had reported a case of assault to the village chairperson, died moments later after settling his bills.
Following the incident, the Police opened a case of suspected murder against the bar owner.
The Kigezi region police spokesman, Elly Maate, identified the client as Kanyarutookye, 60, a resident of Kanyamatembe Cell in Nyarurambi Ward, Rubanda Town Council.
He said Kanyarutookye, a worker at the home of Alexander Turinawe, a primary school teacher, died on Tuesday (August 9), nine days after he was allegedly assaulted in a bar.
According to police records, on July 31, 2022, at around 8:00pm, the suspect, Aloysius Niwagaba, reportedly followed the victim to another bar owned by Innocent Agaba, accusing him of failure to clear his bill of sh2,000.
The area’s local council chairman, Bruno Tibemanya, told the Police that the victim ordered a local drink known as Omusheshe and a soda for his friend only identified as Orishaba, but is said to have left without paying and went to another bar.
It is said Niwagaba followed him. An argument ensued, and Niwagaba allegedly assaulted him, demanding that he clear his bill.
The following day, according to the Police, Kanyarutookye reported the matter to the LC1 chairman, who wrote him a cover letter to the Police detailing the incident.
Tibemanya later learned that Kanyarutookye had met the suspect and cleared his bills.
Days later, he reportedly developed health complications and started vomiting blood, before dying.
Kanyarutookye’s death was attributed to the assault.
