Police in Rukiga District have launched a manhunt for unknown assailant(s) following the gruesome murder of a 70-year-old woman in Muhanga Town Council.
The deceased, identified as Busingye Domitiria, a resident of Butobere Cell, Nyakanengo Ward, was attacked and killed on the night of May 5, 2026, at her home.
According to preliminary police reports, the incident occurred at around 9:44pm while the elderly woman was in her kitchen preparing supper. Moments before the attack, she had sent her four grandchildren, who were staying with her, into the main house to wash their feet.
Shortly after entering the house, the children reportedly heard their grandmother screaming for help. Their attempts to rush out were thwarted when the assailant allegedly locked them inside the house from the outside. The children raised an alarm, attracting the attention of a neighbor, identified as Kyomuhendo Joy.
Kyomuhendo told authorities that as she responded to the distress calls, she encountered an unidentified man dressed in a grey jacket with his head covered, fleeing from the scene toward a nearby banana plantation.
She immediately raised further alarm, drawing other residents who helped to rescue the children.
Upon checking the kitchen, residents found Busingye lying lifeless in a pool of blood, with multiple deep cuts to the head.
The matter was reported to Muhanga Police Station, and officers promptly responded to the scene. Police say the area was examined, documented, and statements were recorded from key witnesses. A postmortem examination was conducted at the scene by a police surgeon.
However, investigators noted that the crime scene had already been tampered with by the time authorities arrived, which could complicate investigations.
Police spokesperson for the Kigezi region, ASP Elly Maate, confirmed that inquiries are ongoing and appealed to the public to provide any information that could lead to the arrest of the suspect(s).
“We urge anyone with credible information to come forward and assist in ensuring that those responsible are brought to justice,” he said.
The motive behind the attack remains unclear.
