Pallisa District was shaken by the discovery of the body of James Walwasa, known locally as Ekomol, on Tuesday morning. His body was found hanging from a mango tree in Ocupai village, near his home in Kameke sub-county.

Walwasa was a familiar and respected figure at Kameke Secondary School, where he had served in the security department for over 25 years. Teachers described him as a dedicated individual who also acted as an unofficial counselor for both staff and students.

The discovery was made by William Asabat, the LC1 chairperson of Ocupai village, who had spoken with Walwasa the previous evening. Asabat was heading to Walwasa's home to discuss community matters when he was met with sounds of mourning. Upon arrival at the scene, officials found a crowd had already gathered, which hampered initial police efforts, including the use of a sniffer dog. The District Police Commander, Patience Namara, urged residents to seek help for their problems and to allow the police to conduct their investigation.

Detectives noted several details about the body that did not align with a typical suicide by hanging. These included the absence of protruding eyes or tongue, and the rope knot being found at the front of the neck.

Due to these observations, Commander Namara ordered a postmortem examination at Pallisa General Hospital to determine the exact cause of death, emphasizing that the case was being treated as criminal.

Some relatives initially expressed concerns about the cost of a postmortem, but the LC3 Chairperson, Vincent Oluka Epokeom, intervened, and a relative agreed to cover transport expenses, allowing the examination to proceed.

Conflicting accounts have emerged regarding Walwasa's last hours. One resident stated Walwasa was in his work uniform and planning to report to school early, while another, speaking anonymously, suggested a domestic quarrel had occurred the previous night.

The school administration at Kameke SS expressed deep shock and grief, noting this was the second loss the institution had experienced in two months. They appealed for community prayers.

Police have stated that the official cause of death will only be confirmed once the postmortem results are released, leaving the community and school awaiting definitive answers.