Three arrested for killing S.6 vacist, mother in suspected family wrangle

Mbarara, (UG): Police in Rwizi Region and Mbarara District are holding three people in custody over the alleged murder of two family members; one Ruth Ainembabazi, 18, an S.6 vacist and her mother Ms Frascisco Bashaba, 49, who were brutally killed by relatives under yet to be known circumstances.

The grievous incident happened on the night of January 5, 2023, at Nsiika cell, Ntura parish in Mbarara District, western Uganda leading to the arrest of Musinguzi Deus, 55, the husband of the deceased and his new wife, plus a step-son to aid in ongoing investigations into the murder case.

According to Police Spokesperson Mr Fred Enanga, preliminary information gathered indicates that on a fateful day, Ms Bashaba, the mother in the company of Ainembabazi, her daughter, went and visited her brother in Nsiika cell, where she received a call from her 55-year-old husband Musinguzi Deus, with whom they were not in good terms, asking about their whereabouts.

Enanga says the duo later returned to their home but were not seen till the next day when residents got concerned and checked their house.

“They found the two victims dead. Both their heads were smashed with a blunt object,” Enanga stated in a Tuesday police statement.

He identified the two other suspects currently in custody with Musinguzi as Bashaba’s Stepson; Ainemukama Julius, 25 and her co-wife, Kyohairwe Rosemary, 50.

“They [trio] were arrested, due to an existing family and wrangle. They were the last persons who called the victims, prior to their death and were acting in a suspicious manner,” Enanga stated.

Expressing his condemnation of such domestic violence, Enanga urged individuals to refrain from taking the law into their own hands, especially within familial settings.

“We do strongly condemn such murders within domestic settings, and would like to urge spouses to always have respect for each other and avoid taking the law in their hands,” the police spokesperson stated, adding that investigations into the matter are actively ongoing.

The Police Annual crime report of 2022 indicated that a total of 17,698 cases of domestic violence were reported to police in that year compared to 17,533 cases reported in 2021.