Police in Uganda’s West Nile Region have launched investigations into the suspected murder of a 50-year-old South Sudanese national, Michael Drabuga, whose body was discovered on Monday morning along the Adjumani–Moyo Road.

West Nile, including Adjumani District, hosts large numbers of South Sudanese refugees.

Sources say Drabuga, a resident of Rassia West Village in Marindi Parish, Pachara Sub-county, reportedly left his home at around 10 p.m. on Sunday to visit a nearby bar. Residents stumbled upon his body the following day.

A homicide team examined the scene before transporting the body to Adjumani General Hospital for a postmortem. The medical report indicated several injuries—among them a broken rib—pointing to physical assault.

“The postmortem confirmed signs of assault, which suggests this was a murder case,” said Asea Collins, spokesperson for the North West Nile Regional Police. “We have commenced investigations to track down those responsible. We encourage anyone with information to come forward.”

The body has since been released to the family for burial.

Drabuga’s death adds to a series of fatal incidents involving South Sudanese nationals in Uganda’s northwestern region.

In August 2025, 34-year-old refugee Faima Chetima, from Bidibidi Zone Five in Yumbe District, was found dead by the roadside in Buya Village, Oluba Parish.
A month earlier, in July 2025, another South Sudanese refugee, 35-year-old Nema Onyiyo, died and her colleague, Lilious Pasi, was injured when soil caved in on them at an illegal mining site inside Imvepi Refugee Settlement in Terego District.

“These cases underscore the risks faced by South Sudanese refugees living in border communities and settlements,” Asea added.