Residents of Kengwe Village in Kyazanga Sub-county have been left in shock following the brutal murder of a local coffee trader.

The deceased, Joram Kalemire, 48, was a resident of the area and a businessman dealing in coffee and other agricultural produce.

His body was discovered in the early hours of Friday morning inside his house, with the door found wide open.

According to residents, Kalemire sustained deep head wounds after reportedly being attacked with an axe.

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Family members say the killing came as a shock. Coslanta Asiimwe, a sister to the deceased, said she had recently visited her brother and left him in good health.

"He had no visible problems when I last saw him. I was devastated to hear that he had been killed," she said.

Merry Namanzi, the widow, revealed that her husband had longstanding disputes with some individuals over debts and suspects the disagreements may have contributed to his death.

The LC1 Chairperson of Kengwe Village, Isa Asiimwe, condemned the incident, blaming rising insecurity on unemployed youth seeking quick money. He said threats against local leaders have made it difficult to move freely at night.

The District Criminal Investigations Officer for Lwengo District, Sylvia Musakuwoona, confirmed investigations are underway and urged residents to cooperate with police while avoiding mob justice.

Residents are now appealing for strengthened security and interventions to address youth unemployment, which they believe is fueling crime in the area.