Police in Rubanda District are searching for a 35-year-old woman accused of murdering her 50-year-old husband in Ikumba Sub-county.
The suspect, identified as Joventa Salimu, allegedly killed Andrew Byomugabe, a nurse and resident of Ndego Trading Centre in Kashasha Parish, Ikumba Sub-county, Rubanda District.
According to a police report, the incident came to light on Thursday at around 6:00 PM when Hillary Akampumuza, the deceased’s son, used a neighbor’s phone to call his stepmother, Atuheire Praize, informing her that his father was dead inside the house.
The stepmother, who lives in Nyamabare, tried calling her husband’s phone, but it was switched off. She then contacted neighbors, urging them to check on him.
When police inquired about the whereabouts of Byomugabe, Salimu claimed he had traveled to Mbarara to sell timber. However, concerned locals continued to gather at the home until the LC3 Chairperson of Ikumba, Wensi, arrived and broke into the bedroom. There, they found Byomugabe lying in a pool of blood next to a patient’s bed, his head tied with a grey sweater.
According to police, the suspect fled the scene under the cover of darkness. Elly Maate, the Kigezi Region Police spokesperson, confirmed the incident on Friday. He stated that a case of murder had been registered at Rubanda Police Station. The scene was visited, processed, and documented.
No exhibits were recovered at the scene, but a postmortem was conducted on-site. Police also conducted community policing in the area before handing over the body to relatives for burial.
Investigations are ongoing as efforts to locate and apprehend the suspect continue.
