Man kills brother over land dispute

One of the properties destroyed by angry residents of Namung’oma village following the killing of Silvester Wandekwa.

A man has gone into hiding after he allegedly led a group of eight people in brutally beating his step-brother to death.

The man is said to have hit Silvester Wandekwa, 38, with a jembe in the presence of their parents, before the others joined in and beat him to death.

"He (the suspect) hit Wandekwa on the head with a jembe before other people joined in and beat him to death using stones and blunt objects," Charles Oduong, the assailant's father said.

The deceased's sister, Elizabeth Anyango, accused her half siblings of ganging up against her brother.

"Eight people attacked him with stones. He jumped into a trailer to save his life but they still went after him, pulled him down and continued beating him with machetes until he bled to death. They dragged him to a sugarcane plantation and when they saw a mob coming they ran away," Ms Anyango said.

She added: "My family has been having conflicts but I never thought it would come to a point of someone committing murder. I urge police to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book," she said.

Six suspects have already surrendered to police. The main suspect is still on the run.

Following the killing at Namung'oma village in Navakholo sub-county, angry neighbours cut down the man's maize, burned his house and also destroyed property of an unknown value belonging to his accomplices.

They also vowed to lynch the main suspect if they catch him. The suspect's parents, a Mr Oduong and Beatrice Nabwire, also ran away for fear of being attacked.

The deceased's mother Jane Awino said she has been staying in a church compound since March this year after her husband sold her land without her knowledge.

Afterwards, Awino unsuccessfully tried to reclaim her land through court.

"I am in pain. My son has been killed because of land. The Government should help me get justice. I don't have a place to call home and I also have grandchildren to take care of," she said amid sobs.