Partners in Toxic Relationships Should Seek Help From Child and Family Protection Unit, Police Advises

Uganda Police Force has raised concerns over domestic violence leading to murders in toxic relationships. Police registered two separate incidents that involved spouses stealing money eventually causing death of the partners.

One of the incidents involves a one Juliet Chelangat, a 43 year old peasant of Waror village, Tegeres sub county, in Kapchorwa district, in custody for the alleged murder by assault, of her husband, Namawangala Stephen, aged 40, after he stole her cash savings and failed to refund it.

Information indicates that the suspect on the 4.10.2023, withdrew her savings of Ugx 200,000=, from Kabati village savings group, to pay school fees for their children. Her husband removed the money, from where she had kept it, on the 8.10.2023 and spent it all on alcohol. He promised to pay it back on 9.10.2023 but failed. At around 11pm, they developed a quarrel which led to a fight, where the suspect pushed her husband to the ground and he became unconscious. He died while being rushed to Kapchorwa hospital. The suspect was arrested and detained in custody for murder.

In a separate development, the police and UPDF in Nabilatuk district, are actively searching for a L/CPL Ruhuriza Michael of Lopetageit detach, under the 49 Batallion, for the alleged murder by shooting of Irama Mercy, a 20 year old, female victim, whom he was cohabiting with, for the last 5 months, over theft of his cash Ugx 150,000=. 

The money was part of his loan, obtained from the Wazalendo SACCO. The OC detach had prevailed over the family, following repeated complaints of theft of money, but all in vain. On the fateful day, the suspect returned from the bar at around 10pm, picked his gun and shot dead the victim. He abandoned the gun with 109 bullets a distance of about 120 metres and fled. (9 bullet shells were recovered from the scene). The UPDF got in touch with the victim’s relatives for burial arrangement.

Fred Enanga the police spokesperson noted that, "the two incidents show the dangers in homes, where there is no respect and or mutual understanding. We continue to advise spouses or partners in toxic relationships to seek help from the Child and Family Protection Unit, before it is too late and life threatening."