Police in Uganda’s Kigezi region are investigating two separate deaths, including a suspected murder-suicide in Rukungiri District and the killing of a 17-year-old student in neighbouring Rukiga District.
In Rukungiri, authorities said a man allegedly killed his wife before taking his own life by suspected poisoning.
The deceased were identified as Theodoro Tumwekwase and his wife, Bonniconcila Nduhukire, residents of Kamuzinzi Village, Nyabushenyi Parish, Nyarushanje Sub-county.
‘It is alleged that the couple has been having domestic issues for a long time and on December 15, they spent the whole [day] quarreling in loud voices and the man was heard saying that he was going to kill a person and later kill himself,’ said Elly Maate, Kigezi police spokesman, on Wednesday.
A family friend, Peace Arituha, found the home open with the radio playing and no response from the occupants.
Upon checking the house, she discovered Nduhukire lying in a pool of blood with a deep cut on her neck and raised alarm, attracting neighbours.
Maate said the area LC1 chairman, Apollo Kamagara, reported the incident to Kiyenje police station, prompting officers from Rukungiri Central Police Station to visit the scene.
‘Upon reaching the scene of crime, it was discovered that Tumwekwase had also taken suspected poison and was lying under the coffee tree near their home in an unconscious state. He was taken to Rwamahwa Health Center IV for treatment where he was pronounced dead on December 17 at around 0050hrs. The two bodies were taken to Buyanja Health III mortuary for postmortem,’ Maate explained in a statement.
In a separate case in Rukiga District, police are investigating the death of 17-year-old Edward Mugarura, a student at Kihanga Secondary School.
His body was found on December 17 lying by the roadside in Nyakatungunda Village, Nyakarambi Parish, Rwamucucu Sub-county.
‘It is alleged that on December 16 at around 2200hrs, Mugarura was at a local bar in Sindi ward of Mparo Town Council drinking alcohol with friends. When it was time for departure, some boys known to the bar attendant followed him on a motorcycle while smoking cigarettes. On December 17 at around 0900hrs, his body was found lying on the roadside,’ Maate said.
Police discovered bruises and a swollen head, showing signs of beating.
A canine unit led investigators to the Ampumuza Gerald bar, resulting in the arrest of seven people, including the bar owner and attendants, to assist in the investigation.
Mugarura’s body was taken to Kabale Regional Referral Hospital for examination.
The 2024 annual police crime report suggested that at least 25 lives are lost to murder or road crashes in Uganda every day.