News
Court jails second man over murder of young NWSC employee
Lady Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala on Monday, June 15, 2026, sentenced Chris Opio to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of murder following a full trial.
Chris Opio being led to the court cell after he was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the murder of NWSC staff in April last year. (Photo by Hudson Apunyo)
By: Hudson Apunyo, Journalist @New Vision
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When National Water and Sewerage Corporation (NWSC) employee Natal Alaru set off for Lira Bus Park in the early morning hours of April 2, 2025, he was looking forward to another day of work and the future he was building for his young family.
His wife was eight months pregnant, and the couple was preparing to welcome their second child into the world.
However, Alaru never made it to his workplace. The young professional was ambushed, hacked and robbed in a brutal attack that shocked Lira City and left behind a grieving widow, a toddler and an unborn child who would grow up never knowing his father.
More than a year later, as that child passes his first birthday, the High Court in Lira has sentenced a second man over the killing of Alaru, bringing another chapter of one of the region's most disturbing murder cases to a close.
Lady Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala on Monday, June 15, 2026, sentenced Chris Opio to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of murder following a full trial.
Justice Kalibbala, who took over the matter from visiting judge Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, convicted Opio of murdering Alaru.
The sentence comes nearly two months after Opio's co-accused, Innocent Otim, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to the same offence.
Promising life ended
During sentencing, Chief State Attorney Jonathan Okello described the killing as a devastating loss to both the family and the wider community.
Lady Justice Sarah Birungi Kalibbala on Monday, June 15, 2026, sentenced Chris Opio to 25 years in prison after finding him guilty of murder following a full trial.
Justice Kalibbala, who took over the matter from visiting judge Justice Lawrence Tweyanze, convicted Opio of murdering Alaru.
The sentence comes nearly two months after Opio's co-accused, Innocent Otim, was sentenced to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to the same offence.
Promising life ended
During sentencing, Chief State Attorney Jonathan Okello described the killing as a devastating loss to both the family and the wider community.
He told court that Alaru had only recently secured employment with NWSC and was beginning to establish himself professionally while supporting a young family.
The prosecution submitted that the murder was premeditated and violently executed using sharp weapons, leaving a trail of pain that continues to affect those closest to the deceased.
Okello told court that Alaru left behind a young wife, a toddler and an unborn child, who was still in the womb when his father was murdered.
The prosecution argued that the brutality of the attack and the devastating consequences for the family justified a severe sentence.
Victor Bua, an uncle to the deceased, told court that Alaru's widow was eight months pregnant when her husband was killed.
Bua said the deceased had become the sole breadwinner and had only recently begun what appeared to be a promising career with the national water utility.
By the time Justice Kalibbala delivered her sentence on Monday this week, the child who was still unborn at the time of the murder had already grown to more than a year old, but he never had a chance of knowing his father.
Court heard that the widow remains traumatised and continues to struggle with the emotional burden of raising two children alone.
The court also heard that Alaru was more than an employee. Outside his formal work, he was involved in goat farming and was regarded as a hardworking young man whose contributions benefited the wider community.
The night of the murder
Court records show that Alaru was attacked at around 3:00am on April 2, 2025, in Obutowelo B Cell, Lira City West Division, as he made his way to Lira Bus Park to travel to Moyo District.
He was ambushed, repeatedly cut with a panga and robbed of his belongings.
Neighbours who responded to his cries for help found the accused persons at the scene. According to prosecution evidence, they attempted to disguise their actions by claiming they had disciplined a thief.
Alaru was rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Investigations later linked the attackers to the crime through forensic and physical evidence.
Police recovered a blood-stained panga from Otim's residence, which was analysed by the Government Analytical Laboratory and confirmed to have been used in the fatal attack.
Investigators also recovered two backpacks hidden in an unfinished house near the convict's home. The bags contained several of Alaru's personal belongings, including clothing, national identity card, driving permit and ATM (Automated Teller Machine) cards.
The prosecution lined up 10 witnesses and assembled evidence that convinced court that there was a case to answer.
However, before the trial progressed further, Otim changed his plea and admitted responsibility for the murder. Otim was sentenced to 35 years, while Opio was given 25 years.
Why court reduced sentence
While murder attracts a maximum penalty of death under Ugandan law, courts retain the discretion to impose lesser sentences depending on the circumstances of each case.
Justice Kalibbala referred to the Constitution (Sentencing Guidelines for Courts of Judicature) (Practice) Directions, 2013, which set a starting point of 35 years' imprisonment for murder, with sentences ranging from 30 years to death depending on aggravating and mitigating factors.
The judge also relied on previous decisions of superior courts, including Uganda Vs Yustina, Uganda Vs Pulinali Baluku, Uganda Vs Sperito Semaganda, and Uganda Vs Bayon Muhwezi, which provide guidance on sentencing for murder convictions.
In determining the appropriate punishment, the court considered the gruesome nature of the killing, the prevalence of murder cases in the region and the devastating impact on the deceased's family.
Justice Kalibbala specifically noted that Alaru left behind a widow, who was eight months pregnant and children who would grow up without their father's care and support.
However, the judge pointed out that Opio's role in the murder was less direct than that of his co-accused.
The court observed that although Opio was linked to the crime through the doctrine of common intention, but forensic evidence did not directly connect him to the weapons used in the attack.
"His DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) was not found on any of the weapons exhibited as having been used in the killing," the judge noted.
The court further considered that Opio was a first offender, had shown remorse, was relatively young and had family responsibilities, including two school-going children.
After balancing the aggravating and mitigating factors, Justice Kalibbala concluded that a sentence of 25 years in jail was appropriate.
The court also deducted one year, two months and 19 days that Opio had already spent on remand.
The prosecution submitted that the murder was premeditated and violently executed using sharp weapons, leaving a trail of pain that continues to affect those closest to the deceased.
Okello told court that Alaru left behind a young wife, a toddler and an unborn child, who was still in the womb when his father was murdered.
The prosecution argued that the brutality of the attack and the devastating consequences for the family justified a severe sentence.
Victor Bua, an uncle to the deceased, told court that Alaru's widow was eight months pregnant when her husband was killed.
Bua said the deceased had become the sole breadwinner and had only recently begun what appeared to be a promising career with the national water utility.
By the time Justice Kalibbala delivered her sentence on Monday this week, the child who was still unborn at the time of the murder had already grown to more than a year old, but he never had a chance of knowing his father.
Court heard that the widow remains traumatised and continues to struggle with the emotional burden of raising two children alone.
The court also heard that Alaru was more than an employee. Outside his formal work, he was involved in goat farming and was regarded as a hardworking young man whose contributions benefited the wider community.
The night of the murder
Court records show that Alaru was attacked at around 3:00am on April 2, 2025, in Obutowelo B Cell, Lira City West Division, as he made his way to Lira Bus Park to travel to Moyo District.
He was ambushed, repeatedly cut with a panga and robbed of his belongings.
Neighbours who responded to his cries for help found the accused persons at the scene. According to prosecution evidence, they attempted to disguise their actions by claiming they had disciplined a thief.
Alaru was rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.
Investigations later linked the attackers to the crime through forensic and physical evidence.
Police recovered a blood-stained panga from Otim's residence, which was analysed by the Government Analytical Laboratory and confirmed to have been used in the fatal attack.
Investigators also recovered two backpacks hidden in an unfinished house near the convict's home. The bags contained several of Alaru's personal belongings, including clothing, national identity card, driving permit and ATM (Automated Teller Machine) cards.
The prosecution lined up 10 witnesses and assembled evidence that convinced court that there was a case to answer.
However, before the trial progressed further, Otim changed his plea and admitted responsibility for the murder. Otim was sentenced to 35 years, while Opio was given 25 years.
Why court reduced sentence
While murder attracts a maximum penalty of death under Ugandan law, courts retain the discretion to impose lesser sentences depending on the circumstances of each case.
Justice Kalibbala referred to the Constitution (Sentencing Guidelines for Courts of Judicature) (Practice) Directions, 2013, which set a starting point of 35 years' imprisonment for murder, with sentences ranging from 30 years to death depending on aggravating and mitigating factors.
The judge also relied on previous decisions of superior courts, including Uganda Vs Yustina, Uganda Vs Pulinali Baluku, Uganda Vs Sperito Semaganda, and Uganda Vs Bayon Muhwezi, which provide guidance on sentencing for murder convictions.
In determining the appropriate punishment, the court considered the gruesome nature of the killing, the prevalence of murder cases in the region and the devastating impact on the deceased's family.
Justice Kalibbala specifically noted that Alaru left behind a widow, who was eight months pregnant and children who would grow up without their father's care and support.
However, the judge pointed out that Opio's role in the murder was less direct than that of his co-accused.
The court observed that although Opio was linked to the crime through the doctrine of common intention, but forensic evidence did not directly connect him to the weapons used in the attack.
"His DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) was not found on any of the weapons exhibited as having been used in the killing," the judge noted.
The court further considered that Opio was a first offender, had shown remorse, was relatively young and had family responsibilities, including two school-going children.
After balancing the aggravating and mitigating factors, Justice Kalibbala concluded that a sentence of 25 years in jail was appropriate.
The court also deducted one year, two months and 19 days that Opio had already spent on remand.