By KT Reporter
Police in the Kiira region are investigating a tragic incident where a boda boda rider, identified as Isabirye, killed his 19-year-old wife and their 8-month-old toddler before taking his own life by hanging. The incident occurred in Katende Triangle, Northern Division, Jinja City.
It’s suspected that Isabirye and his wife had developed misunderstandings, which led them to lock themselves inside their rented room. After strangling his wife and child, Isabirye allegedly set the house on fire, possibly to cover up his crime. However, when he heard his neighbors knocking on the door, he hanged himself.
However, one of the residents, identified as Sharifah Namusisi, noticed smoke rising from the house and alerted others. As they tried to put out the fire, they realized no one was coming out of the room. In a desperate attempt to save the occupants, well-wishers forced open the door, only to find the woman and child lying lifeless on the bed, while Isabirye was dangling from the ceiling.
Police retrieved the bodies and took them to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital for postmortem examination, and investigations are ongoing. Isabirye and his wife had been living in the area for nine months, but their landlord, Mohammed Kisambira, revealed that he wasn’t aware of their full details.
He had been demanding rent from Isabirye for over three months but said the couple had failed to pay. Kisambira also mentioned that the couple had been involved in a violent argument over the weekend, which prompted him to threaten eviction. It was only then that Isabirye revealed his surname.
Kisambira explained that his rentals are located in a slum area, and it’s difficult to find tenants. As a result, he tends to exercise leniency toward tenants for fear of losing them to other landlords. He noted that tenants are often acquired through intermediaries who handle rental payments, making it difficult to know their full details.
Fauza Namiiro, the chairperson of the women’s council in Katende Triangle Zone, disclosed that the wife had previously reported unbearable conditions in her marriage. She had shared her concerns about Isabirye’s possessive behavior, alleging that he would accuse her of cheating with men from the neighborhood.
She also mentioned that Isabirye would confiscate her phone and interrogate her every 30 minutes about her whereabouts. Namiiro said the woman’s complaints included regular physical abuse, which left her psychologically affected. However, the woman eventually withdrew her complaint for fear of further retribution from Isabirye.
In addition, L.C.1 Chairperson Paul Musisi revealed that the woman had filed a complaint with him on Sunday, March 9th, prompting him to summon Isabirye. However, Isabirye refused to comply. Musisi added that Isabirye had physically assaulted his wife on Sunday night, accusing her of exposing him to the public.
Musisi also highlighted a growing trend of domestic violence in the area, particularly among young couples, noting that many of them lack the tools for self-control. He shared that just the previous day, he had received three complaints of domestic violence, all involving young couples, and had referred them to the police for further investigation.
Hamis Kiganira, the Jinja North Deputy Resident City Commissioner, suggested that mental health issues could be a contributing factor to such incidents. He urged individuals facing challenging situations to seek help before anger and depression escalate into tragedy. He emphasized that while companionship is important, it’s vital for individuals to recognize when their relationship is no longer healthy and to prioritize peace of mind over harmful situations-URN. Give us feedback on this story through our email: kamwokyatimes@gmail.com
