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A Police officer has appeared before court and explained why he believes businessman Francis Onebe was involved in the killing of his wife.
Onebe, an accountant by profession, is accused of murdering his wife, Immaculate Mary Blessing Aiso, and later disposing of her body in a septic tank at their home.
The businessman is jointly charged with Bonny Oriekot, a security guard employed by Pentagon Security Company. The charge of murder carries a maximum penalty of death if the accused are found guilty.
While testifying before Justice Andrew Khaukha, the head of the Judicial Training Institute, Assistant Superintendent of Police Nobert Ochom on March 16, 2026, told the court that investigations point to Onebe’s involvement in the crime.
According to Ochom, at the time Aiso disappeared, only three people (Onebe, Aiso, and Oriekot) were living at the couple’s home in Munyonyo, Kampala.
He also said that the investigators recovered Aiso’s body from the septic tank located at the same residence.
The officer further told the court that Oriekot initially reported that Aiso had been kidnapped. However, investigations later revealed that the guard was with his girlfriend at the time the alleged kidnapping occurred.
Ochom also highlighted several suspicious findings during the investigation. These included the replacement of cover sheets in the house after Aiso’s disappearance, Onebe’s alleged attempt to leave the country, fresh paint applied to parts of the house, and the discovery of the deceased’s mobile phones and handbag within the residence.
The search
Ochom testified that when security operatives conducted a search at Pentagon Security Company, they discovered that Aiso was not permitted to use company vehicles despite being the managing director.
The witness added that Aiso was never paid a salary and that a yellow vehicle previously given to her had been taken away.
When pressed by defence lawyers, the witness admitted that the search was conducted without a search warrant.
He further stated that two diary books were recovered from Aiso’s office. However, upon examining the diaries in court, Ochom said there was nothing in writing indicating that the accused had threatened the deceased.
The witness also conceded that investigators did not conduct forensic examinations to confirm whether the handwriting in the diaries belonged to the deceased.
Ochom then read to the court a statement allegedly made by Okello, which stated:
“We are still concerned about my sister’s disappearance. We carried out inquiries in her security company and the church where she used to pray. Her disappearance was not connected to the accused. It was within our family and clan where there has been a misunderstanding.”
Background
On January 6, 2021, Onebe reported a case of his missing wife at Buziga Police post, and investigations commenced. He claimed that his wife was picked up by plainclothes operatives travelling in a ‘drone’ and taken to an unknown destination.
A week later, her body was recovered from a septic tank at the couple’s residence by the joint security team headed by the Criminal Investigations Directorate operatives.
Police preliminary investigations reveal that Onebe and his wife, Aiso, parted ways and after 14 years reunited and formally married until her murder.
In the committal papers, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reveals that Onebe and Aiso had a dispute over sorcery, resulting in the death of his wife.
The case was adjourned to March 31 for further hearing.