Two remanded over strangulation of Norwegian National Robert Hausvik in Jinja

Jinja, (UG):– The Territorial Police in Jinja have arrested, and remanded to prison, two suspects on charges of murder of a 39-year-old Norwegian national, who was allegedly strangled to death at his residence in Walukuba West, Jinja City.

Kiira Regional Police Spokesperson SP James Mubi identified the deceased as Robert Hausvik, commonly known as Katongole who is said to have been strangled by his girlfriend, Sheillah Nabatanzi, with the help of a friend, Ali Kigozi who initially attempted to disguise the murder as a suicide.

According to SP Mubi, it is alleged that on Monday, March 10, 2025, medical personnel at Mivule Crescent Medical Center in Jinja City alerted the Central Police Station (CPS) Jinja about a lifeless male body that had been brought in by Nabatanzi and Kigozi.

The Regional Criminal Investigation Directorate Officer (CID), SSP Dr. Monday Johnson Agaba, immediately dispatched a team of senior homicide detectives to investigate. Upon arrival at the medical facility, police found Hausvik’s body in the emergency room, covered with green bedsheets, with an injury observed on his right toe.

The body was later transferred to Jinja Regional Referral Hospital Mortuary and subsequently to Mulago National Referral Hospital for a detailed forensic postmortem.

Contradictory Accounts from the Suspects

Following their arrest on March 10, Nabatanzi and Kigozi claimed that Hausvik had died by suicide. According to their statement, the deceased allegedly hanged himself using his trousers during the night of Sunday, March 9, into the morning of Monday, March 10, at their rented residence in Walukuba West, Block C, Maternity Cell, Jinja Southern Division.

The suspects stated that Hausvik and Nabatanzi had spent the evening at Bourbon Bar and Lounge in Jinja City but got into a heated argument. Nabatanzi left for their home, while Hausvik returned later. The quarrel reportedly continued at home until Nabatanzi went to bed, leaving him in the sitting room.

In the morning, Kigozi claimed to have found Hausvik hanging and, together with Nabatanzi, rushed him to the medical center in an effort to conceal the crime.

Upon being alerted of the tragic incident, police immediately launched an investigation, visiting both the Walukuba residence and the medical facility to gather evidence and obtain statements from witnesses. Preliminary findings suggested inconsistencies in the suspects’ account, leading to the classification of the case as a suspicious death.

As a result, the deceased’s body was subjected to forensic analysis by seasoned pathologists, AIGP Dr. Moses Byaruhanga, the Uganda Police Director of Medical Services, and Dr. Moses Ambayo. Their report confirmed the cause of death as murder by strangulation, ruling out suicide.

The Resident Senior State Attorney (RSSA) sanctioned the case file, and on Friday, March 21, the suspects were arraigned before the Jinja Magistrate’s Court. They were subsequently remanded to Kirinya Prisons until March 31, 2025, when they will appear for mention of their case.

Police Caution on Staged Suicides

Dr Agaba cautioned couples and the public generally to completely desist from staging homicide cases as disguised suicide, adding that there’s straightforward differentiation between suicide and murder.

Meanwhile, SP Mubi revealed that police are still searching for a third suspect, Zam Zam, Kigozi’s girlfriend, who fled the scene.

Authorities urged the public to provide any information regarding her whereabouts, as investigations into the motive behind the murder remain ongoing.