By KT Reporter
Police in Rubirizi District are investigating a case of murder and suicide involving a couple in Kichwamba Sub-county. According to Apollo Tayebwa, the Greater Bushenyi Regional Police spokesperson, a man identified as Amidu Niwagira (55), a resident of Rumuri I, killed his wife, Madina Asiimwe (50), a resident of Rumuri II, before ending his life by drowning in Lake Rwizongo.
Tayebwa said Niwagira attacked Asiimwe on Tuesday evening while she was harvesting coffee on their plantation. He allegedly hacked her multiple times with a panga before fleeing to the lake where he drowned. The couple, who had 13 children, reportedly had a long history of domestic disputes and multiple police case files related to land wrangles and violence.
Beyendeza Patrick, the LC1 Chairperson of Rumuri I, said Asiimwe had inherited several plots of land from her family, which she insisted on managing independently. However, her husband wanted her to sell the property, leading to frequent conflicts. He recalled that two months ago Asiimwe reported Niwagira to police for assault, and he was ordered to stay away from her and the property.
“This family has struggled with domestic conflict for a long time. As leaders, we tried to mediate, but tensions persisted. It is very painful that this ended in the loss of two lives. We call upon families to resolve disputes peacefully instead of resorting to violence,” Beyendeza said.
The Officer-in-Charge of Kichwamba Police Station, Masereka Julius, urged the public to refrain from domestic violence and instead use lawful avenues to resolve disputes. Masereka confirmed that Asiimwe’s body was taken to Lugazi Health Center IV for a postmortem, while a search for Niwagira’s body in Lake Rwizongo was ongoing.
Meanwhile, in Sheema District, two people have died and another is nursing serious injuries following a house fire on Tuesday. Tayebwa stated that the fire was allegedly set by Nuwaha Juliet, a resident of Rweyeshera cell in Sheema Municipality. The deceased have been identified as Juliet herself and her two-year-old daughter.
Her husband, Nuwaha Godwin, a boda boda rider in Kabwohe town, survived with injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Kabwohe Health Center IV. According to David Barigye, the LC1 Chairperson of Rweyeshera, the family had a history of domestic violence, with community members accusing Juliet of repeatedly assaulting her husband.
He added that Juliet often accused her husband of infidelity, which may have fueled the fatal incident.
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