Kitgum, Uganda: Police in Northern Uganda’s Kitgum District are investigating the brutal murder of a 36-year-old school cook who was allegedly raped and fatally assaulted in a forest in Latiti Cell, Pager Division, Kitgum Municipality.
The victim, identified as Agness Aneno, who worked at Kitgum Boys Primary School, was discovered tied to a tree, unconscious and severely injured in the early hours of Wednesday morning. She was rushed to St. Joseph Hospital in Kitgum but was pronounced dead on arrival.
“It was reported that at around 5:00 am, a lady was heard crying in a forest belonging to the late Opia. The community members responded only to find a woman tied to a tree and badly injured,” said Aswa East Region Police spokesperson, Mr. Joe Oloya.
He added: “A piece of stick was pushed into her private parts.”
According to preliminary police reports, Aneno was likely attacked between 4:00 am and 5:00 am. She had reportedly left her home early to prepare breakfast for pupils at the school.
Detectives from the District Criminal Investigations Department processed the scene, and the body was transferred to Kitgum General Hospital for a postmortem. Police have since opened a murder case, although no arrests had been made by press time.
Sources within the investigation hinted that the victim may have been pregnant at the time of the assault, though this remains unconfirmed pending medical examination.
The horrific incident has sparked outrage among residents and added to growing fears over escalating violent crime in the region.
According to the Uganda Police Annual Crime Report (2023), Kitgum District recorded the highest number of homicides in the Acholi sub-region, with 34 reported murder cases. These included cases of domestic violence, stabbings, shootings, and mob justice.
This latest killing brings the number of reported murders in Aswa East Region to at least nine since January 2025.
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