Bukenya was laid to rest in Kinoni, Lwengo District, on Tuesday, as grief and anger continued to ripple through the community.
Martin Bukenya and flame three, the deceased (left) in a red T. Shirt.
Fresh controversy has emerged in the death of Martin Bukenya, the 18-year-old student who was allegedly beaten to death by his girlfriend’s father on Valentine’s Day, after his mother denied claims that she had previously been warned about her son’s relationship.
Imelda Nakiyembe, Bukenya’s mother, has refuted statements by Mabanda Cell Chairman Kizito, who claimed she attended a meeting in December last year after her son was reportedly found at the home of Herbert Lumu Musasizi.
According to Kizito, Bukenya had been discovered inside Musasizi’s house and was cautioned never to return. He alleged that the matter was considered serious enough for both teenagers to undergo blood and pregnancy tests, which reportedly showed that neither was HIV positive and that the girl was not pregnant. He further claimed Nakiyembe pledged to caution her son.
However, Nakiyembe insists she was never part of such a meeting and had never even met Musasizi.
“Even when he died, I was directed by people to reach the scene with the police. I had never been to that place, and I didn’t know the girl’s father. I am sure even the girl’s father doesn’t know me because we have never met,” the mother said.
Her statement has raised questions about whom Bukenya may have presented as his mother during the alleged December incident.
Residents say the boy’s troubles began late last year when he reportedly spent at least two days staying at Musasizi’s home. The 17-year-old girl at the centre of the case, described as the firstborn in her family, allegedly told her siblings that Bukenya was their uncle, even though the two reportedly shared a bedroom at night.
A neighbour recounted that when Musasizi returned from Gulu District, one of his children informed him that their “uncle” was hiding in a bedroom. Upon opening the door, Musasizi reportedly found Bukenya inside. The children also claimed that the boy would hide whenever visitors were around.
Musasizi, who is said to have frequently travelled for work in Gulu while his wife was reportedly in Canada, was arrested by a crime intelligence team in Gulu on Friday evening. He has since been transferred to Matugga, where the alleged murder took place.
Bukenya was laid to rest in Kinoni, Lwengo District, on Tuesday, as grief and anger continued to ripple through the community.
Nakiyembe, alongside Mabanda Cell women’s affairs leader Sarah Namuddu, Vice Chairperson Robinah Nalugya, and area councillor Christine Sserunjogi, commended police for arresting Musasizi. At the same time, Namuddu and Nalugya criticised neighbours who allegedly failed to intervene despite hearing Bukenya’s cries for help between 8:00pm and 10:00pm on the night he was beaten.
“Sometimes we need to think twice before we act. If Herbert had reasoned like a parent and as an adult, he wouldn’t be facing murder charges. He fought for his daughter, but he is now going to spend several years in jail, and the children are probably going to live a miserable life since their mother also left the country,” Nalugya said.
Both Nalugya and Sserunjogi urged parents to guide and support teenagers through challenges rather than resorting to violence.
Nakiyembe, who works in town and says her son usually spent school holidays with her, described Bukenya as a disciplined child who rarely slept away from home.
“Even that day, he told me he was going to play football. I waited for him until I received information that he had been killed. I now want to see this bad-hearted man,” she said.
Police detectives in Matugga and Kawempe have confirmed that Musasizi is expected to appear in court early next week on murder charges.
One of Bukenya’s teachers, identified as Kayongo, described him in a statement as humble, intelligent, calm, and quiet — a tribute that deepens the sorrow surrounding a life cut short and a community grappling with difficult questions about responsibility, anger, and the consequences of violence.
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