Wife, two other suspects remanded to Hoima Government over Dr Abiriga’s murder

By URN

The Masindi Chief Magistrates court on Tuesday remanded three suspects in the killing of the former District health officer-DHO Dr Jino Abiriga, to Hoima government prison. 

The remanded suspected killers are Betty Cherotich 31, late Dr. Abiriga’s wife, Joshua Namureng 36, a builder and a resident of Tarobya Village in Bukwo district, and Martin Kipsang 31, a carpenter and a resident of Roruk Village in Bukwo district. They were remanded after the murder charge was preferred against them.

Court presided over by Masindi Chief Magistrate Kosia Kasibayo, heard that on January 7, 2024, the trio with others still at large connived, masterminded and brutally murdered Dr. Abiriga.

The late Dr. Abiriga sustained severe wounds to the neck, head, both hands, and his back. Passersby found his body near his gate, in Kijura North cell, Central division of Masindi municipality, at around 6 a.m. and promptly alerted the authorities. 

Upon receiving information about the heinous crime, the police retrieved the body, which was initially taken to Masindi General Hospital mortuary and subsequently transferred to Mulago National Referral Hospital for a postmortem examination.

Police and other security agencies including the Chieftaincy of Military Intelligence operatives embarked on the hunt for the suspected killers and arrested the trio.

Cherotich was arrested from Masindi while Namureng and Kipsang were arrested from Bukwo district. The suspects were whisked off to Masindi central police station and detained.

Police noted that while bloodstains were found inside the deceased’s house, his body was discovered outside the gate.

The Magistrate did not allow the suspects to enter any plea since the court had no jurisdiction to hear their case and remanded them to Hoima government Prison until July 30th, 2024 when they will reappear in court. 

The trio was remanded to Hoima government prison after they declined to be remanded to Masindi government prison for security reasons.  

The prosecution, led by Florence Akello, the Assistant Director in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for mid-western region, told court that the matter was still under investigations and requested the accused persons to be remanded as they finalize with investigations.

Dr. Abiriga was buried at his ancestral home in Tumvea village, Offude parish Tara sub county in Maracha District on Friday last week.