KYANKWANZI – The body of a Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) soldier who had been missing for four days has been found dumped in a culvert in Banda Sub-county, Kyankwanzi District.
The deceased has been identified as No. RA 168613 Corporal Rwenzwa John, 50, attached to the UPDF Casualty Garrison in Mubende.
According to Wamala Region Police Spokesperson, SSP L. Kigozi, Corporal Rwenzwa was on pass leave at his home in Bwaba Village, Banda Sub-county.
Left Home for Prayers
Police says that on November 1, 2026, at around 10:00 am, the deceased left home with his wife, Ms Kakaranga Betty, riding on a motorcycle Registration No. UFD 856B, Bajaj Boxer, to attend prayers in Lwebisanja Trading Centre.
At around 2:00 pm after prayers, the wife returned home and left her husband at the trading centre.
The soldier never returned home. His wife did not file a missing person report, assuming he had returned to his duty station in Mubende.
Body Found After Foul Smell
On November 5, 2026, residents of Bwaba Village were attracted by a foul smell from a culvert at the Bwaba-Kabaale Road junction. Upon checking, they found a decomposing body stuffed inside the culvert.
A report was made at Banda Police Station by Mr. Ntaganira Emmanuel, the LC1 Chairperson of Kyemamba Village, Banda Sub-county.
A team of detectives and a Scene of Crime Officer (SOCO) from Kyankwanzi District Police Command was dispatched to the scene, which was documented and profiled. Statements from relevant witnesses were recorded.
Police Suspects Murder
Police says the state in which the body was found raises strong suspicion of murder by strangulation. The body was found swollen and decomposing, with injuries suggestive of a broken neck.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased was killed elsewhere and his body dumped in the culvert, making the culvert a secondary scene.
His motorcycle, a Bajaj Boxer Reg No. UFD 856B, is still missing.
The body has been conveyed to Kiboga Hospital mortuary pending postmortem examination.
Police in Kyankwanzi are appealing to residents of Bwaba, Lwebisanja, Kyemamba villages and the entire district with information that can lead to the recovery of the motorcycle and arrest of suspects to contact Kyankwanzi District Police Command. Police says such information will be treated with utmost confidentiality.
Inquiries are ongoing.