Masindi DHO murder: Police apprehend third suspect, reveal motive

The Police on Monday, January 15, said all suspects involved in the January 7, 2024, murder of former acting Masindi district health officer, Dr Jino Abiriga, have been arrested. 

Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said the third prime suspect, Joshua Namureng, was arrested in Bukwo district. Namureng becomes the third suspect to be arrested after the Police arrested Martin Kipsang alias Chesebe, allegedly hired by the deceased wife Betty Cherotic to carry out the murder. 

“The Directorate of Criminal Investigations Directorate (CID) in coordination with the Elgon region, Sipi Region, Albertine Region, Masindi Police and the Flying Squad Unit, have in custody the second prime suspect, who was hired by Cherotic, to kill her husband, the late Dr Abiriga and dumped his body 50 metres from his house at around 6:30 am. The suspect is called Namureng, a 36-year-old, builder of Tarobya village, Amanang Sub-County in Bukwo. This now brings the total number of suspects to three, including Cherotic aged 31 (wife to the deceased), and Kipsang a 34-year-old, carpenter of Roruk village, Amanang sub-county in Bukwo District. The trio conspired and murdered the Doctor,” Enanga said. 

Explaining the motive behind the killings, Enanga explained that the facts gathered indicate that the couple started staying together as husband and wife in 2019, and were blessed with a 9-month-old baby, after the loss of their firstborn and miscarriage of twins. 

“It was established that the plot to murder the deceased began after Cherotic learnt about a second relationship her husband had with Suzan Atuhura in Masindi. As a result, she hatched a plot to kill her, the first attempt was by setting fire on her house, which was put off by the neighbours,” Enanga added. 

He further said that on December 11, 2023, she hired Kipsang at a cost of sh500,000 to help her kill her co-wife and on December 18, 2023, the suspect Kipsang travelled to Masindi, after receiving a deposit of sh500,000, to kill Atuhura. The murder plot failed on December 18, 2023, after the intended victim failed to appear at the location that they expected her to be,” Enanga said. 

Enanga noted that it was as a result of the two failed murder plots against her co-wife, that she shifted and plotted to murder her husband, whom she accused of the death of their firstborn, the miscarriage of their twins, and for constantly insulting her as a bad performer, sexually. 

“She, therefore, tasked Kipsang, to find a second person, to help her murder her husband. On December 26, 2023, Kipsang together with Namureng, came to accomplish their mission, which failed after the doctor woke up and closed the door, upon hearing some movements outside. The door had been left open by his wife.” 

Enanga further explained that the two contract killers returned to Bukwo, and returned to Masindi on January 6, 2024, after much pressure from Cherotic, for them to execute their mission. 

“They travelled from Bukwo and reached Masindi around midday and booked at Valentine Guest House. She alerted and invited them to the house when her husband was deep asleep. The suspects were armed with two huge hand hoe sticks and a knife,” he said. 

“They found when Cherotic had opened the gate, and she led them to the bedroom, where her husband was sleeping. They hit the victim with a hand hoe stick on the head and dragged the body to the floor, where they slit his throat with a knife, killing him instantly. The three suspects cleaned the dead body, dressed it in a red T-shirt and blue trousers, carried it on a small ladder and dumped it 50 metres away from his house,” Enanga stated. 

He said the two male suspects returned to Valentine Guest House, where they dumped the blood-stained clothes in a pit latrine and left Masindi Municipality at 5:30 am. 

“Both Kipsang and Namureng were tracked down, arrested from Bukwo, and transferred to Masindi for further court action. All three suspects admitted to having participated in the murder and the scenes reconstructed. Several tangible exhibits were recovered, which included; two hoe handles recovered from Bulyasojo cell, the shoes of the deceased, a black sports bag, the clothes of the suspect, a bag retrieved from the latrine with a pillow cover, a mopping rug, work identity card for the deceased, and other blood stained clothes. All samples were submitted to the Forensic Directorate for further analysis,” Enanga said. 

He said the Inspector General of Police had applauded the team of CID experts headed by the Deputy Director, Crime Investigations, for the many hours they put into assembling the evidence, within a very short time. 

He also thanked the teams from CID, Albertine, Elgon and Sipi regions, the Flying Squad Unit, and Forensics, who were ultimately responsible for bringing the suspects to book. 

“We have also noticed, that much as women are the most frequent victims in family murders, there is an increase in murders of husbands/men by women. The wife of the deceased played a key role in the cold-blooded, calculated and premeditated murder of her husband. Like always, we continue to urge spouses, lovers, and families in toxic relationships, to always seek assistance from the Child and Family Protection Unit, Probation Officers, elders, and local leaders, before it is too late. The three suspects are scheduled to appear in court for murder and related conspiracies,” Enanga said.