Decomposing body found in Lira guest house

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Shock engulfed Lira City when the decomposing body of an unidentified woman was discovered in a lodge.

The incident was reported to police after workers at Provident Guest House located at the junction of Oyite Ojok  Road in the city centre opened one of the rooms and found a decomposing body on the bed.

The woman believed to be in her 50s checked into the guest house on Monday (April 28) evening. She was in the company of a youthful man.It's reported that the following day, the man told the employees about a brief errand and also asked them not to open the room which he said contained valuables.

Tom Akaa, the proprietor in a brief interview said the body was discovered on Thursday afternoon after workers reported a foul smell near the room.

Suspect identified

The North Kyoga Region Police Spokesperson, Patrick Jimmy Okema, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Thursday. 

He revealed that on April 28, 2025, at around 8:30 am, a man identified as Walter Oyuku paid sh12,000 for Room 03 and recorded his name and phone number in the register.

Oyuku later left with the key and returned around 11:00 pm accompanied by the unidentified woman.

At approximately 4:00 am, he approached two of the guest house staff and asked them to open the gate. 

He also handed one of them sh12,000 as an advance payment for the second night and warned them not to tamper with the room as he would return.

The staff, trusting his word, did not check the room until the morning of April 30, at around 9:00 am. 

Akullu, upon detecting a foul odour, opened the door and discovered the body.

She immediately alerted her colleague, who in turn informed the proprietor. A case of suspected murder was reported at Lira City Central Police Station.

According to Okema, a team of officers from the homicide unit and the Scene of Crime Office (SOCO), led by the Deputy Officer in Charge of CID, attended the scene, documented it, and recorded statements from witnesses.

A container made of dry papyrus and cardboard typically used for transporting smoked fish, was also found in the room.

This has led investigators to believe that the woman may have been a trader, possibly in Lira on a business trip, and may have had a significant amount of cash.

Police suspect the man could have lured her into a romantic encounter to rob and kill her.

“Efforts are underway to establish the identity of the deceased, ascertain the motive, and apprehend the suspect,” Okema stated adding that blood samples and other relevant exhibits have been collected for forensic analysis at the Government Laboratory.