Court sets hearing date for widow accused of murdering Masindi DHO Abiriga

MASINDI - After 20 months of public frustration over delays, the High Court has scheduled September 11, 2025, as the commencement date for the trial of Betty Cherotich, the widow accused of masterminding the brutal murder of her husband, Dr Jino Abiriga, the former Masindi District Health Officer.

The hearing will unfold at Masindi High Court, where Assistant Registrar Juliet Nakitede confirmed the case is among 85 criminal matters slated for the upcoming session, including 37 murder cases and 33 aggravated defilement charges.

Abiriga’s body was discovered 50 metres from his Kijura North home on January 7, 2024, bearing a deep neck wound and abdominal injuries.

His alleged killers: Cherotich (31), her brothers Martin Kipsanga (42) and Joshua Namurenge (36), have languished in Nakasongola Prison since their arrest, fueling widespread concern in Masindi about the case’s sluggish progress.

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A plot forged in jealousy and blood

According to Police investigations, Cherotich’s motive stemmed from marital strife and suspicions of infidelity. Fred Enanga, then Police spokesperson, detailed the chilling sequence during a January 15, 2024, briefing:

"It was established that the plot began after Cherotic Betty learnt about a second relationship her husband had with a lady called Atuhura Susan in Masindi."
Her initial target? Susan. Enanga revealed.

"She first hatched a plot to kill her concubine... by setting fire to her house, which neighbours extinguished. On December 11, she hired contract killer Kipisang Martin for shillings 2.5 million. A week later, she paid him 500,000 to eliminate Susan, but the plot failed when Susan didn’t appear."

Undeterred, Cherotich redirected her fury toward Abiriga, accusing him of causing their firstborn’s death, twin miscarriages, and insulting her "sexual performance." 
On December 26, 2023, Kipsanga and Namurenge attempted murder but failed when the doctor awoke and locked the door Cherotich had left open.

Joshua Namurenge (L) and his colleague Martin Kipsanga at Masindi court in 2024. (New Vision Files/Yosam Gucwaki)

The fatal night

The trio allegedly struck on January 6, 2024. Enanga reconstructed the crime. "Around midday, they booked a room at Valentine’s Guest House. That night, she alerted them that the husband was deep asleep.

They found the gate open, and she led them into the bedroom. Armed with two golf sticks, they hit him on the head with a handhoe stick, dragged the body to the floor, and slit the doctor’s throat."

After dumping Abiriga’s body 50 metres away, dressed in new clothes, the suspects cleaned the crime scene. They disposed of bloodstained evidence in Valentine’s Guest House latrine before fleeing to Bukwo district at 5:30am on January 7, according to the Police.

Evidence

Police recovered "Shoes of the deceased with the suspect, clothes worn during the murder, and forensic samples from Bulyasojo cell," according to Enanga.

"The bag retrieved from Valentine’s latrine contained a pillow cover, mopping rug, the victim’s work ID, and bloodstained clothes."