Story by Aggrey Twesigye
Residents of Surveyor Cell in Kakiika Ward, North Division, Mbarara City, were left in shock and fear on Sunday morning after gunfire erupted around 6:00 a.m., claiming the life of a prominent local businessman in what police suspect to be a property-related killing.
The victim, 46-year-old Lauben Sunday—a former moneylender and respected figure in the area—was gunned down while cleaning the compound of his late father’s rental property.
According to eyewitnesses, unknown assailants ambushed Sunday on-site and opened fire, killing him instantly before fleeing the scene.
The incident occurred in broad daylight, sending panic throughout the neighborhood. Police officers from the Rwizi Region Police arrived shortly after the shooting, cordoned off the area, and recovered a bullet cartridge as part of their preliminary investigation.
Sunday’s body was later transported to Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital for a postmortem.
Investigations have so far revealed that the killing may be linked to a long-standing family feud over property. Sunday and his siblings had reportedly been embroiled in a bitter dispute following the death of their father, John Babyehuzya, in 2023.
The late Babyehuzya had left behind several rental units, which have since become a source of contention among his children, particularly around issues of inheritance, management, and potential sale.
Local sources claim tensions within the family had escalated in recent months, with arguments over control and ownership of the rentals becoming more public and volatile.
Rwizi Region Police spokesperson, SP Samson Kasasira, confirmed on Tuesday that the murder is being treated as suspicious and that a full investigation is underway.
No suspects have been arrested as yet, and police are appealing to members of the public with any useful information to come forward.
As the community mourns a man known for his business acumen and generosity, residents are calling for increased security measures and swift justice for the slain businessman.
