Police in Kiboga District have launched a manhunt for a 28-year-old man accused of fatally stabbing his partner following a domestic dispute allegedly fueled by accusations of infidelity.
The deceased, identified as 25-year-old Sumaya Natukunda, was a resident of Kakunyu C Cell, Kakunyu Ward in Bukomero Town Council.
According to police, the suspect, Hussein Serugo, with whom the deceased had cohabited for the last 10 months, allegedly attacked her on Wednesday night inside their rented room, property belonging to Mr Edward Kasozi.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the couple’s relationship had been marred by months of mistrust, repeated accusations of unfaithfulness, and violent confrontations reportedly instigated by the suspect.
The Wamala Regional Police spokesperson, SSP Lameck Kigozi, stated that the suspect had earlier confiscated the deceased’s mobile phone before the fatal incident occurred.
‘At around 7:00 pm on Idd day, the deceased left the house in the company of her friend, identified as Shifrah Kyosimire, leaving the suspect behind,’ SSP Kigozi said.
He added that at about 11:00 pm, the two women returned home, but Ms Kyosimire left after Natukunda started knocking on the door.
‘Moments later, she heard the deceased screaming, ‘They have killed me!’ This prompted her to rush back, only to find her lying in a pool of blood,’ SSP Kigozi said.
The witness immediately alerted the landlord, who reported the matter to the police. A homicide team led by the Kiboga District Criminal Investigations Department (CID) officer visited and documented the scene. A police sniffer dog was also introduced to aid the search.
‘The K9 tracked the suspect’s scent up to the main road before losing the track,’ SSP Kigozi added.
The body was conveyed to Kiboga Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination as police intensified the hunt for Serugo, who remains at large.
The incident adds to a troubling surge of domestic violence-related killings reported across the country, many of which police attribute to unresolved misunderstandings, jealousy, and toxic relationships.
Just days earlier, on Sunday, May 24, 23-year-old Sherina Namatovu, a resident of Nakitolo Cell, Ttanda Ward in Mityana Municipality, was allegedly strangled by her husband, Dumbe Nsubuga. Police reports indicate Namatovu was killed for refusing to return to their matrimonial home following a separation caused by persistent domestic abuse.
Similarly, on May 18, police in Mubende District arrested 32-year-old Ambrose Turyasingura for allegedly hacking his wife, Annet Turyahebwa, to death with a panga after she reportedly declined his demand for intimacy.
Grim statistics
The latest police data paints a grim picture of gender-based and domestic violence nationwide. According to the 2025 Annual Crime Police Report, a total of 208 murder cases arising from domestic violence were reported to police, compared to 183 cases recorded in 2024. This represents a worrying 13.7 per cent increase in just one year.
The report further indicates that out of the 208 victims of aggravated domestic violence, 92 were adult females, 89 were adult males, 14 were male juveniles, and 13 were female juveniles.