Editor
The territorial police in Rukungiri have apprehended three suspects accused of murdering Vincent Byamukama, a 53-year-old man who was their biological relative. The suspects are Everino Mutesigensi, aged 44, and the wife of the deceased, Hilder Nishaba, aged 19 and a daughter, and Moses Akanjijuka, aged 21 and a son. They reside in Mushuga village, Katonya parish, Nyakishenyi sub-county, Rukungiri district.
It is alleged that Vincent Byamukama had longstanding domestic issues with his family, involving alcoholism. On June 4, 2024, around 9:00 PM, Vincent returned home intoxicated and chased away his wife Everino and daughter Hilder, leaving behind his grandson, Wilbraod, aged 6. The wife and daughter fled but later returned home to cook upon learning that Vincent had gone to the trading center for more alcohol.
On June 8, 2024, around 8:00 PM, knowing Vincent was still at the trading center, Everino and Hilder returned home to cook. Before they could finish, Vincent unexpectedly appeared with a machete and chased after them, though he did not catch them. Angry and hungry, Everino and Hilder hid until around 11:00 PM when they returned home. Finding the door open, they entered the bedroom where Vincent was asleep with a machete beside him.
Reportedly, Everino picked up the machete and fatally cut Vincent’s neck, killing him instantly. Everino and Hilder then carried Vincent’s body on a mattress to the back of their compound, burned it with dried banana leaves and fibers, and eventually dumped the remains in their demolished toilet on June 9, 2024.
On June 13, 2024, Annet, Vincent’s sister, questioned Hilder about Vincent’s whereabouts, and Hilder falsely claimed he had fallen and died in their toilet. Annet informed another brother, Twesigye Angelo, who organized residents to check the toilet. They found it demolished with a visible human skull inside, prompting them to report the matter to Nyakishenyi Police Station, which then notified CPS Rukungiri for further action.
Crime scene investigators visited, examined, and documented the scenes. They recovered a blood-stained walking stick, burnt pieces of mattress and mat (ekirago) from both locations. Everino, Hilder, and Moses were subsequently arrested and detained at CPS Rukungiri to aid ongoing investigations.
