Husband strangles mother of 8 in Tororo

TORORO - Residents of Morukatipe Central village in Tororo district's Morukatipe sub-county are still shocked after a man strangled his wife just days after she received the Parish Development Model (PDM) programme cash.

Charles Ekituno reportedly strangled Florence Awori, a mother of eight children, before attempting to tie a cloth around her neck to stage a suicide scene.

The incident happened on Friday, May 16, 2025, afternoon when the other family members had gone to participate in the NRM party sub-county structural election.

After sensing danger, Ekituno then decided to rush to Tororo Central Police Station, where he handed himself over for fear of reprisal attacks from the angry community members.

Area LC3 chairperson Gerald Omaset told New Vision Online that Ekituno, who wedded the deceased almost a year ago, has been living a very quarrelsome life.

He said after receiving PDM cash on Monday, Ekituno was seen drinking endlessly in the trading centre.

Omaset added that trouble for Awori emanated from when she went to attend the funeral services of the brother of her daughter-in-law.

Omaset condemned the act while calling upon family members to always resort to harmoniously resolving disputes instead of engaging in violence.

James Omasaja, a close relative, said Ekituno, who never allowed his wife to move out of the home, was enraged by her decision to attend the funeral, resulting in violence that led to her death.

Omasaja said the incident comes barely a week after another member nearly lost his life out of excitement after receiving the PDM funds.

The man, only identified as Ogino, was rushed to the hospital after he accidentally started defecating uncontrollably in the bank upon receiving the cash.

His relatives were forced to clean the bank premises.

About PDM

The Government rolled out the PDM programme about three years ago, targeting people under the poverty line to support them in carrying out income-generating activities to improve household earnings.

Each household gets shillings one million that is repayable after two years. Each parish receives shillings 100 million every financial year. 

Ibanda was one of the first 10 districts to benefit from this revolving fund. One must be in a PDM group and SACCOs to get the money. Kaliisa credited the programme as being partly responsible for easing Uganda’s poverty levels, from 39% previously to 37% currently.