Mourners demand justice for slain preacher’s wife

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Family and friends have called for justice for the late Gloria Lamwaka Achoa, who was brutally murdered on the night of April 11, 2026, in Kyaliwajjala, Wakiso district.

The 28-year-old preacher’s wife and mother of one was allegedly abducted, sexually assaulted, and killed.

Her death has since sparked renewed concern over rising violence against women and children, with many demanding urgent action from authorities to curb what they described as escalating brutality.

Jacinta Adoch Otto, the deceased’s mother pays her tribute, with her are other family members.

Jacinta Adoch Otto, the deceased’s mother, fought back tears as she recalled her last conversation with Lwamaka on Saturday, the night she was murdered.

“She was happy. I never imagined it would be the last time. We should stop these heinous acts. The violence should stop."

This was during a funeral service at Kakumba Chapel at Kyambogo University.

Lamwaka’s sister, Paska Oyella, described her as dependable and deeply devoted to both family and faith.

“She was very honest. When she said she would do something, she would do it. She was a great sister, a great mother, and a faithful servant in the house of the Lord.”

'We deserve to be safe'

Friends also painted a picture of a calm, kind-hearted woman committed to helping others.

Caroline Athiambo, who met Lamwaka during their university days in 2016, remembered her as quiet but compassionate. “She had a golden heart. Last year, we went together to do charity work at Butabika Hospital.

Olivia Byanyima, founder of The Quixotic Project where Lamwaka worked, described her as diligent and selfless.

“She was often the first to arrive and the last to leave. She even spent her Christmas volunteering at Butabika. This is too much violence for women and children. We cannot allow it to pass.”

Some of the deceased's siblings delivering their eulogy at the requiem service.

Byanyima added that Lamwaka’s story must serve as a wake-up call.

“We all deserve to be safe. We want our loved ones safe. Her story must be told so that this violence does not continue unchecked.”

'I felt uneasy'

According to her husband, Abraham Lenny Achoa,  the events leading to Lamwaka’s death were both sudden and deeply unsettling.

On the evening of April 11, at around 9:40 pm, she stepped out of their home to buy mangoes and diapers from a nearby shop but never returned.

Earlier that day, however, her behaviour had seemed unusual.

“She got up early and cleared out our room. She said she was making her final arrangements and how she wanted things to be," said a distraught Achoa.

He said she had even spoken about giving away some of her belongings. Later that night, after realising she had not returned, he began searching for her.

“I felt uneasy. My stomach was getting heavy. I called her, but her phone was off. By midnight, I was moving everywhere looking for her.”

The search ended in horror when he entered a nearby garden.

“I saw her hair on the ground. As I moved closer, I saw her T-shirt. She had no pulse. She had severe injuries, and her body was cold.”

The manner of Lwamaka's​ death has left a deep scar on family, friends, and the wider community, with many now demanding accountability and stronger protections for vulnerable groups.