The Police together with the Uganda Peoples’ Defence Force (UPDF) in Nabilatuk district are hunting for the officer who shot dead his girlfriend for stealing his sh150,000.
Fred Enanga, the Police Spokesperson has identified the suspect as L/CPL Ruhuriza Michael of Lopetageit detach, under the 49 Battalion and the deceased as Mercy Irama (20).
Enanga has revealed that Ruhuriza has been cohabiting with Irama for the last five months but they got a misunderstanding after the girlfriend allegedly stole the officer’s money amounting to sh150,000.
“The money was part of his loan, obtained from the Wazalendo SACCO to settle some of his financial obligations,” he said.
It is alleged that the officer in charge of the 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 10:00pm, picked up his gun and shot dead Irama. He abandoned the gun with 109 bullets in a distance of about 120 metres and fled. Nine bullet shells were recovered from the scene,” Enanga revealed.
The Police got in touch with the victim’s relatives and handed over the body for burial arrangements.
In a separate similar incident, the territorial police in Sipi Region have in custody a one Juliet Chelangat, a 43 year old peasant of Waror village, Tegeres sub-county, in Kapchorwa district, for the alleged murder by assault, of her husband, Namawangala Stephen (40), after he stole her cash savings and failed to refund it.
Enanga said the suspect on October 4, 2023, withdrew her savings amounting to sh200,000 from Kabati village savings group, to pay school fees for their children.
However, it is alleged that her husband removed the money from where she had kept it on October 8, 2023 and spent the whole of it on alcohol.
“When the wife interrogated him, he promised to pay it back on October 9, 2023 but in vain. At around 11:00pm, they developed a quarrel which led to a fight. The suspect therefore pushed her husband to the ground and he became unconscious. He died while being rushed to Kapchorwa hospital,” the Police spokesperson said, adding that the suspect was arrested and detained on charges of murder.
Enanga said that the two incidents show the dangers in homes, where there is no respect and mutual understanding.
He advised the spouses or partners in toxic relationships to seek help from the Child and Family Protection Unit, before it is too late, leading to the extent of life threatening.