By Henry Okello
MBALE CITY
Shock and grief have gripped Namakwekwe Estates in Mbale city after the death of 27-year-old Brian Waniala, whose life was cut short by escalating gang violence in the City.
Waniala, a procurement and logistics graduate, was attacked by a suspected gang of criminals on March 9th, 2025 along Mukamba Road as he walked home from watching a football match between Liverpool and Newcastle.
The assailants allegedly stole his phone and wallet, beating him in the process.
“He came back home and told me what happened. He wasn’t bleeding, and it seemed minor, so we bought medicine. But days later, he started complaining of severe headaches,” said his father, Charles Waniala, a former LC3 chairperson of the area.
His condition worsened five days later, prompting a CT scan that revealed a blood clot in his brain. He was rushed to Mbale Regional Referral Hospital for surgery but died in the operating theatre on March 17, moments after his father signed the consent forms.
His death has reignited fears over Mbale’s security, where criminal gangs continue to operate with impunity. The “Kiteso gang,” consisting of boys aged 16 to 18, has reportedly terrorised the area for months. Another resident was attacked the night after Waniala’s assault.
“These youths have no fear. They see killing as a game,” said Uthman Mukote, a resident.
Criminal gangs have previously wreaked havoc in Mbale. In 2024, machete-wielding youths on motorcycles left several dead and injured, forcing police to mount temporary crackdowns.
Resident City Commissioner Asumin Nasike acknowledged the rise in attacks. “We have intensified patrols and intelligence to crack down on these gangs,” she said.
