Ugandan authorities have arrested two people for allegedly gangraping a 41-year-old, Susan Malemu, woman to death in Jinja City.
Malemu’s remains were taken to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for an autopsy.
According to reports, the incident happened on Monday night at Kikubambata, also known as ‘Peru’ in Walukuba-Masese Ward, Jinja South East Division.
The suspects were reportedly rounded up in Walukuba and Masese following the incident.
A neighbour of the deceased, Michael Opio, said the victim was in the company of some men and boys in a local bar prior to the crime.
“We cannot blame her but the local leaders in the area who have failed to regulate some of the President’s directives, including operating bars,” Opio said.
He urged the government to close all illegally operating bars that, according to him, house drug dealers and gamblers that break into people’s homes.
Angered by the woman’s death, residents in the area on Tuesday morning set the house where the deceased was allegedly gang-raped on fire.
The suspects were said to have used a room in the house to commit the crime after which they fled the scene.
James Mubi, the Kiira regional police spokesperson, said out of the 22 suspects in custody, only two were linked to the crime.
“Twenty are going to be charged with the possession of illicit drugs, while two will face murder and rape charges,” he said.
“This operation was carried out through community policing following concerns of an increase in crimes like house break-ins, rape and snatching of women’s bags among others,” he explained.