Police probe couple’s death, defilement of Juvenile in West Nile
Bodies of the young couple, both aged 18, were discovered inside their house in Ezeveku Cell, Aliba Ward, Ayivu East Division, Arua City.
The suspect allegedly entered the house, switched off the security light and sexually assaulted the juvenile.
WEST NILE - Police in West Nile are investigating the suspicious death of an 18-year-old couple in Arua City.
Bodies of the young couple, both aged 18, were discovered inside their house in Ezeveku Cell, Aliba Ward, Ayivu East Division, Arua City.
The bodies were reportedly found at about 10:00am on October 4 after a resident went to check on the couple after they had not been seen since the previous evening. According to preliminary police findings, the couple had recently returned from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
According to Josephine Angucia, the West Nile regional police spokesperson, officers visited, examined and documented the scene before the bodies were conveyed to Arua Regional Referral Hospital mortuary for a postmortem examination.
Police also recorded statements from witnesses and opened a case of suspicious death to establish the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Angucia said investigations are still ongoing and police are awaiting the postmortem report to help establish the cause of death.
The case, referenced as 07/04/10/2026, is being investigated under Ayivu East Police.
According to the 2025 annual crime report released last week, police recorded 4,238 homicide cases in 2025, a slight decrease from 4,329 cases reported in 2024.
The victims included 3,397 adult males, 550 adult females, 173 male juveniles, and 148 female juveniles. Of these, 338 victims were killed through hacking, compared to 310 in 2024.
An analysis of data indicates that the motives behind these killings largely stemmed from land disputes, domestic violence, acts of mob justice, family misunderstandings, crimes of passion and business rivalries.
Defilement case
In a separate incident in Nebbi District, police are investigating the alleged defilement of a female juvenile, who was sexually assaulted by an unidentified man.
According to police, the man reportedly broke into a grass-thatched house where the girl was sleeping in Parombo Town Council at about 1:00am on October 5, 2026, and defiled her (the girl).
The suspect reportedly threatened the victim with a knife before fleeing. The victim raised an alarm and alerted her parents, who reported the matter to Parombo Police Station at about 11:34am.
Angucia said police opened a case of rape and escorted the victim for medical examination. "She received medical attention and was placed on post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP)," said Angucia.
Detectives also visited and documented the scene and recorded statements from relevant persons to aid investigations.
Forensic evidence has been submitted for analysis, while efforts are ongoing to identify and apprehend the suspect.
Police have appealed for calm and urged anyone with information that could assist in the investigations to report to the nearest police station.
Defilement figures
The 2025 annual police report released early this year showed that the force recorded a total of 10,492 cases of defilement last year compared to 12,312 cases reported in 2024, giving a decrease of 14.8%. The victims of the crime were 10,493, including 10,328 female juveniles, 128 male juveniles and 37 female adults.
A total of 3,473 cases of aggravated defilement were reported last year compared to 4,072 cases in 2024, giving a 14.7% increase. Most cases were registered in Rwenzori West, with 225 aggravated defilement cases, followed by Kampala Metropolitan North with 221 cases, Rwizi with 212 and Wamala with 204 cases.