Barbara Nassozi Kiyaga, founder and executive director of Deaf Link Uganda, was killed when armed men attacked a lodge in Kisoro, triggering a shootout with police that left an officer wounded.
A violent overnight attack at a tourist lodge in Kisoro District has claimed the life of Barbara Nassozi Kiyaga, the founder and executive director of Deaf Link Uganda (DLU), in an incident that has sparked fresh security concerns in the southwestern border district.
Kiyaga was killed at Mucha Lodges, situated along the Mutolere-Nyundo road near Lake Mulehe, after unidentified gunmen stormed the premises at approximately 2am on Thursday, November 5.
The attack prompted a response from police officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire between security personnel and the assailants.
Police Constable Charles Mukesi, who was reportedly guarding the lodge, sustained a gunshot wound to his left leg during the confrontation.
He was subsequently evacuated to Kisoro Hospital, where medical personnel reported that his condition was stable by Thursday evening.
Kiyaga, a Kampala resident, had reportedly checked into the lodge on Wednesday and reserved accommodation for four days.
Preliminary information indicates that she sustained approximately seven gunshot wounds during the attack.
Kigezi regional police spokesperson Nelson Tumushime confirmed the identities of the deceased and the injured officer, saying police had launched an operation to pursue the attackers.
Security personnel have also been deployed to reinforce protection around the lodge and other areas frequented by tourists.
Tumushime urged residents to remain calm and share information that could assist investigators in tracking down those responsible for the killing.
Suspects Arrested as Investigations Intensify
Authorities in Kisoro have begun questioning individuals who could help investigators establish what happened at Mucha Lodges and identify the assailants.
Kisoro Deputy Resident District Commissioner Dan Ndikumwami confirmed that some people had been arrested in connection with the ongoing investigations.
Investigators have also obtained statements from employees at the lodge as part of efforts to reconstruct the events leading to the fatal shooting.
Ndikumwami said authorities were pursuing all available leads to ensure that the suspects are apprehended and face prosecution.
The investigation comes amid growing pressure on security agencies to address concerns over armed attacks in Kisoro, particularly in areas that attract tourists and visitors.
Kisoro District LCV Chairman Richard Ndyana said local security leaders had agreed to step up police patrols and introduce unannounced security checks in an effort to curb the movement of armed criminals.
The district is also working with security agencies to strengthen surveillance along its international borders.
Ndyana said the Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) would be deployed as part of efforts to reinforce border security, given Kisoro’s proximity to Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Tourism Leaders Demand Better Protection
The shooting has also raised concerns within the tourism sector, with industry leaders calling for stronger security arrangements at lodges and other visitor facilities.
Canon Ivan Mbabazi Batuma, chairman of the Kigezi Tourism Cluster, appealed to security agencies to introduce measures that would prevent similar attacks in the region.
He cautioned that even if the incident is treated as an isolated case, authorities must strengthen protection in tourism areas to avert further violence.
The attack comes at a time when Kisoro’s tourism sector continues to rely on attractions around Lake Mulehe, the Virunga conservation landscape and other destinations in the region.
The killing of a visitor at a lodge is likely to intensify questions about the safety of tourists and hospitality establishments in the district.
The attack at Mucha Lodges have added to concerns about violent crime in the district.
However, authorities have not established a link between the two incidents, which remain separate investigations.
Who Was Barbara Nassozi Kiyaga?
Kiyaga was the founding executive director of Deaf Link Uganda, a non-governmental organisation established to improve the welfare and advancement of deaf people in Uganda.
The organisation works to promote the interests of people with hearing disabilities, making Kiyaga’s death a significant loss to the institution she founded.
Her killing has left investigators with the task of establishing why she was targeted during the attack and whether the assailants had any specific motive.
Police have not yet disclosed the motive behind the shooting.
Security agencies have appealed to residents and members of the public to provide information that could assist investigations as efforts to apprehend the attackers continue.
It should be remembered that last month a businessman and his wife were shot dead in Kisoro last month. (See Details Here).
