DR ABIRIGA MURDER: His wife first attempted to kill her co-wife

The Directorate of CID in coordination with the Elgon region, Sipi region, Albertine region, Masindi police and the Flying Squad Unit, have in custody the second prime suspect, who was hired by Cherotic Betty, to kill her husband, the late Dr. Abiriga Jino, on January 1,2024, after his body dumped 50 metres from his house at around 6:30am.

According to Police spokesperson Fred Enanga, the suspect is called Namureng Joshna, a 36 year old builder of Tarobya village, Amanang subcounty in Bukwo.

“This now brings the total number of suspects to three, including; Cherotic Betty, aged 31 (wife to the deceased), and Kipsang Martin alias Chesebe, a 34 year old, carpenter of Roruk village, Amanang sub county in Bukwo district. The trio conspired and murdered the Doctor,” he said in a statement dated January 15, 2024.

He noted that the facts gathered indicate that the couple started staying together as husband and wife in 2019, and were blessed with a 9 month old baby, after the loss of their first born and miscarriage of twins.

Enanga explained that that the plot to murder the deceased, began after Cherotic learnt about a second relationship, her husband had with Atuhura Suzan in Masindi. “As a result she hatched a plot to kill her; the first attempt was by setting fire on her house, which was put off by the neighbours.”

“Again, on December 11,2023, she hired Kipsang Martin at a cost of Ugx 2.5m, to help her kill her co-wife, And on the 18.12.2023, the suspect Kipsang travelled to Masindi, after receiving a deposit of Ugx 500,000= , to kill Atuhura Suzan. The murder plot failed, on the December 18,.2023, after the intended victim, failed to appear at the location, that they expected her to be,” he revealed.

He further noted that it was as a result of the two failed murder plots against her co-wife, that she shifted and plotted to murder her husband, whom he accused for the death of their first born, the miscarriage of their twins, and for constantly insulting her as a bad performer, sexually.

“She therefore, tasked Kipsang Martin, to find a second person, to help her murder her husband. On the December 26, 2023, Kipsang together with Namureng  came to accomplish their mission, which failed after the Doctor, woke up and closed the door, upon hearing some movements outside which had been left open by his wife,”

Enanga said the two contract killers returned to Bukwo, and returned on January 6,2024, after much pressure from Chesang, for them to execute their mission.

“They travelled from Bukwo and reached Masindi around midday and booked at Valentine Guest House. She alerted and invited them to the house, them when her husband was deep asleep. The suspects were armed with two huge hand hoe sticks and a knife. They found when Betty had opened the gate, and she led them to the bedroom, where her husband was sleeping. They hit the victim with hand hoe stick on the head, and dragged the body to the floor, where they slit his throat with a knife, killing him instantly. The 3 suspects cleaned the dead body, dressed it in a red T-shirt and blue trouser, carried it on a small ladder and dumped it 50 metres away, from his house,” he explained.

He also revealed that the two male suspects returned to Valentine Guest House, where they dumped the blood stained clothes in a pit latrine and left Masindi Municipality at 5:30am.” Both Kipsang Martin and Namureng Joshua were tracked down, arrested from Bukwo and transferred to Masindi, for further court action.”

According to Enanga, all 3 suspects admitted to having participated in the murder and the scenes reconstructed.

“Several tangible exhibits were recovered, which included; two hoe handle were recovered from Bulyasojo cell, shoes of the deceased, black sports bag, clothes of the suspect, a bag retrieved from the latrine with a pillow cover, mopping rug, work ID for the deceased, and other blood stained clothes. All samples were submitted to the Forensic Directorate for further analysis.”