Murdered Entebbe couple may have been victims of family inheritance wrangle

Entebbe, Uganda: Fresh details have emerged surrounding the brutal murder of an elderly couple in Entebbe, with investigators now zeroing in on a family feud over inherited property as the likely motive behind the gruesome double homicide.

David Mutaaga, 69, and his wife, Deborah Florence Mutaaga, 62, were found brutally stabbed to death at their home in Lugonjo, Entebbe Municipality, Wakiso District on the morning of July 7, 2025. The couple had only recently returned from Germany after over 30 years abroad and had just hosted a joyous homecoming party the night before their bodies were discovered.

Forensic investigators revealed that the killer likely gained access by scaling the perimeter fence, then breaking into the master bedroom through a shattered window. The roofing above the same window had been tampered with, pointing to a stealthy entry rather than forced access through the main door.

The assailant, according to preliminary findings, is believed to have exited through the front gate, which was left unlocked. Footprints and physical evidence recovered from the bedroom area and compound suggest that the attacker had intimate knowledge of the house’s layout and the couple’s routines.

Police have since retrieved CCTV surveillance footage from the home and are currently analyzing it alongside forensic evidence, including latent fingerprints.

Initial assessments suggest that the motive may not have been robbery, as no significant valuables were stolen, further reinforcing suspicions that the killings may have stemmed from a bitter dispute over family property.

Inheritance row?

Sources close to the investigation told DailyExpress that tensions over inheritance had recently escalated among extended family members. It is suspected that unresolved disagreements over property left behind by a deceased relative may have fueled deadly intentions.

To complicate matters, burial arrangements for the deceased couple have hit a snag, as their two children, both foreign citizens, are unable to immediately return to Uganda.

Local sources indicate that disputes have now erupted over who should assume control of the funeral and property affairs, exposing deeper family divisions in the wake of tragedy.

Residents in the quiet neighborhood of Lugonjo have expressed horror and sorrow at the murder. Many described the Mutaagas as humble, generous, and community-minded. “It’s unthinkable that someone could do this just after such a beautiful homecoming,” one neighbor said.

Police remain confident that a breakthrough in the case is near, with multiple forensic leads and surveillance footage pointing toward a suspect likely known to the victims. The motive, now centered on family inheritance wrangles, continues to guide the investigation as residents recover from the utter shock.