Mwanza — A man suspected of having a mental illness died after being attacked by a mob following an incident where he allegedly injured two people with a machete during a Catholic church service in the Ukerewe District on April 5, 2026.
According to a public statement released by the Mwanza Regional Police Commander, the incident occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. at the Kagunguli Parish. The police report identified the deceased suspect as 38-year-old Renatus Silivester, also known as Pacome, a resident of the village.
The police stated that Silivester entered the church through a right-side door, carrying a bag and headed directly towards the altar while the service was ongoing. The parish chairman, 65-year-old Costantine Muumba Bituro, reportedly noticed the man’s suspicious behaviour and attempted to escort him out of the building.
During questioning outside the church, the suspect allegedly drew a machete and attacked.
Bituro sustained injuries to his head and arms, while a 57-year-old choir member, Aloyce Christopher, suffered injuries to his left arm. Both victims were transported to the Bugando Zonal Referral Hospital in Mwanza city for further medical treatment, where their conditions are reported to be improving.
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Following the attack on the church members, a group of congregants and citizens outside the church overpowered the suspect. The police report indicated that the mob beat Silivester with traditional weapons, causing multiple injuries across his body. He was rushed to the Ukerewe District Hospital but was pronounced dead before arrival.
The Mwanza Regional Police Force has confirmed that an in-depth investigation into the incident is currently underway.
This incident occurs against a backdrop of heightened security concerns in the Mwanza region and across the country following the October 2025 general elections.
The elections were accompanied by widespread protests and a subsequent crackdown by security forces, which human rights organisations and the United Nations report have left hundreds dead and many more detained.
The Catholic Church in the country has previously condemned the ongoing violence, with church leaders describing the post-election bloodshed as an “abomination before God” and holding special masses to pray for the victims of the unrest, attracting attacks from the authorities, including President Samia Suluhu Hassan herself.
While there is no immediate indication that the attack in Ukerewe is directly linked to the broader political violence, it adds to the tense atmosphere in the region and beyond.
