Woman Loses Ear in Suspected Rape Attempt in Kasese

What the report says

Police in Kasese District are searching for two suspects after a violent attack on a 29-year-old woman during what investigators describe as a suspected rape attempt. The incident reportedly happened around 1:15 a.m. on Thursday in Kasese Municipality, when the woman, Moreen Masika of Kidodo Cell in Railway Ward, was riding on a motorcycle with her brother-in-law.

According to police, the suspects blocked the road with stones, forced the motorcycle to stop, and one of them emerged from nearby bushes, threatened the victim, and allegedly tried to assault her. A struggle followed. Police said the woman defended herself and bit the attacker’s tongue before he used a sharp object from a bag to cut off her right ear.

The second suspect was said to have fought with the motorcycle rider, but the attack ended when another boda boda rider arrived, prompting the suspects to flee. Police said one fleeing suspect was identified by the rider as a fellow boda boda rider believed to live in Kidodo Cell, which may help the inquiry.

The victim was taken to St Mary’s Hospital, where she remains admitted. Police later visited the scene, recovered the severed ear, and took it to Kasese Municipality Health Centre mortuary as evidence. The case highlights ongoing concerns about gender-based violence and the safety of women traveling at night, though police have not yet confirmed the identities of the suspects.