William Unek

William Unek was a Ugandan man responsible for two separate mass killing sprees in the mid-1950s. His actions caused immense shock across the Belgian Congo and the Tanganyika Territory. These events took place during a period of colonial rule in East Africa. Unek was actually born as Adrogo Urwinyo in the West Nile District of Uganda. He was a member of the Alur people from the Jahoulur chiefdom. His life is defined by these two violent periods that spanned several years and different borders.

The first series of killings occurred in the Mahagi territory of the Belgian Congo. In either 1954 or 1955, Adrogo hosted a banquet for his family in Angala village. This event was held during an indigenous festival. During the night, Adrogo used a machete to kill 22 of his relatives. He believed his family was using witchcraft to sabotage his marriage. After the attack, he set his home on fire and fled the area. He used a boat on Lake Albert to cross back into Uganda.

After fleeing the Congo, Adrogo moved to the Tanganyika Territory. He adopted a false identity and claimed to be an Acholi man named William Unek. The Acholi were a Luo people whom the British regarded as a "martial race." This meant they were often assigned to military or police duties. Because many Luo people worked in law enforcement, his identity went unquestioned. By 1956, he had joined the Tanganyika Police Force. He served as an askari, which was the lowest rank of constable.

In February 1957, Unek committed his second spree of killings in Malampaka village. He began by attacking the local police post in the Maswa District. He used an axe to break into the police armoury. From there, he stole six rifles and 50 rounds of .303 ammunition. The attack resulted in the deaths of several police officers and their families. Unek also targeted the local railway station and various businesses in the town. Witnesses said he seemed to shoot anyone who crossed his path.

Unek's second spree was widespread and lasted for less than twelve hours in the town. He later moved into the surrounding countryside to attack isolated homes. During these attacks, he ambushed occupants and stole their food and clothing. He also set fire to several huts and outbuildings. In total, the second spree resulted in 36 deaths. The victims included ten men, eight women, and eight children. Many others, approximately 30 people, were injured during the violence.

Investigators looked for motives behind these violent actions. In the Congo, authorities believed Adrogo suffered from neurasthenia, a term then used for mental and physical fatigue. In Tanganyika, Unek claimed he killed because he believed people were spying on him. He also accused his superior officer, Sergeant Clement, of having an affair with his concubine, Angelina. While the affair could not be proven, Unek's testimony focused on these social misunderstandings. This second spree caused massive disruption to the local Sukuma people.

The capture of Unek triggered the largest manhunt in Tanganyika's history at that time. A massive search force eventually grew to 4,000 people. This group included 200 police officers and 3,000 Wasukuma tribesmen. The British authorities also sent a company of over 100 soldiers from the King's African Rifles. To assist the search, the government used a spotter plane, jeeps, and tracker dogs. A reward of £125 was offered for his capture. After a nine-day search through swamps and bushland, Unek was caught and died on February 20, 1957.