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 DR JINO ABIRIGA 

On Friday, mourners — including leaders from West Nile and Masindi — who attended the burial of the late acting Masindi district health officer, 52-year-old Dr Jino Abiriga, made a collective call for justice and the speedy trial of his murderers.

Meanwhile, another suspect in connection with the Sunday night (January 7) killing of the doctor in Masindi was arrested in Bukwo district in eastern Uganda.

He was detained at Bukwo Central Police Station.

His arrest followed the arrest earlier in the week of some members of Abiriga's family, including his 31-year-old wife, Betty Cherotic, also in connection with the murder.

Abiriga's body was found about 50 metres from his residence in Kijura cell, central division in Masindi municipality.

In a statement on Monday, Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the doctor's body was found with a deep cut on the neck and multiple cuts in the head and hand.

Samples of blood stains found inside his home were taken for forensic analysis as Police investigations continued.

Abiriga was laid to rest at his ancestral home in Tumvea village, Ofudde parish in Tara sub-county, Maracha district.

Dr Abiriga was 52

Members of his family were joined by friends and wellwishers to give him a befitting sendoff, with calls for justice punctuating the tone of sombre tributes delivered by speaker after speaker.

Emmy Ngabirano, the Masindi resident district commissioner, told mourners that government and security operatives have apprehended suspects in connection with Abiriga's murder.

He assured the population and the family that justice will prevail.

Monica Koliba Kotevu, the deputy RDC of Maracha, challenged the people of Maracha to embrace education, citing Abiriga as an example who started primary school from a humble background in a rural school.

She said when people are educated and informed, it changes the community perspective.

Ismael Tuku, the prime minister of the Lugbara Kari cultural institution, commended the delegation from Masindi for attending the slain doctor's sendoff.

"We are in touch with the people of Bunyoro and the Lugbara have a huge stake in the economic development of Bunyoro Kitara Kingdom, where many Lugbara people and the Alur have settled and invested," he said.

Tuku said the relationship between the Banyoro and the Lugbara people is an excellent and smooth one and that the death of Abiriga should not destroy that relationship.

The district chairperson of Maracha, Stephen Obitre, said Abiriga rose from a humble boy in a rural school in Maracha to a student at St Joseph's College, Ombaci, before going on to moved pursue a degree in medicine at Mbarara University of Science & Technology.

After graduating, Abiriga practiced medicine in Masindi all his life. 

Obitre said Abiriga worked tirelessly for the government, joined farming in sugarcane plantations and established a clinic which helped the community in Masindi and Maracha.

In his ancestral village of Tumvea, he established a motorized borehole which is still under construction. It is understood he already secured land to construct a private health facility for the community in Maracha.

Saying that replacing a doctor is expensive, the LC5 chairperson urged the security teams to ensure the investigations into Abiriga's murder are thoroughly done.

At the burial of the late Dr Jino Abiriga in Maracha. (Photo by Robert Ariaka)

Disconsolate family members, friends and wellwishers send off Dr Abiriga. (Photo by Robert Ariaka)

Earlier in the day, Maracha district councillors conduced a special sitting to honour the slain doctor. Emmanuel Wani, the district speaker and councilor for Tara sub-county, presided over the council.

He said Abiriga's contribution was serving humanity through a community clinic and farming, with him using money from these entities to fund the education of some children.

Abiriga also helped the community open a road in his village and donated part of his money for the construction of churches and mosques.

The Maracha council recommended that a bridge be built on River Idre —  in honour of Abiriga — to connect learners to school.

The councillors also recommended that the water project he initiated to help the community be completed to support this effort.

It was the wish of the council that a clinic be opened in Maracha on a plot of land that Abiriga bought to ease access to health services for villagers.

William Afedra, who delivered the bereaved family's eulogy, said Abiriga will be remembered for his contribution in education, supporting religious institutions and other community services.

Abiriga is survived by eight children.