News
Property dispute leaves couple hacked to death in Lira City, three arrested
The victims, Alex Engol, 46, and his wife Teddy Angwech, 41, were attacked with a panga at their home in Opelo Cell, Boroboro West Ward, Lira City East Division, in the early hours of Friday.
Property dispute leaves couple hacked to death in Lira City, three arrested
By: Hudson Apunyo, Journalist @New Vision
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LIRA CITY — Fresh details have emerged linking a long-running family property dispute to the brutal killing of a couple in Lira City, as police continue investigating the double murder that has left four children orphaned.
The victims, Alex Engol, 46, and his wife Teddy Angwech, 41, were attacked with a panga at their home in Opelo Cell, Boroboro West Ward, Lira City East Division, in the early hours of Friday.
Engol died shortly after being rushed to Lira Regional Referral Hospital, while Angwech, who had initially survived the attack and was admitted in critical condition, succumbed to her injuries hours later.
The couple leave behind four children, including two who are currently studying at boarding primary schools.
According to North Kyoga regional police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema, the attack occurred at about today morning at around 2:30am.
Police said Angwech managed to make a distress call to a relative moments after the attack, informing her that an armed assailant had hacked both her and her husband.
Relatives and neighbours, who rushed to the scene, found the couple lying in a pool of blood outside their house.
"When relatives arrived, they found the victims critically injured. The deceased had sustained several deep cuts on the head and other parts of the body," Okema said.
Police later deployed a canine unit, which reportedly tracked and led investigators to one of the suspects' home.
According to North Kyoga regional police spokesperson Patrick Jimmy Okema, the attack occurred at about today morning at around 2:30am.
Police said Angwech managed to make a distress call to a relative moments after the attack, informing her that an armed assailant had hacked both her and her husband.
Relatives and neighbours, who rushed to the scene, found the couple lying in a pool of blood outside their house.
"When relatives arrived, they found the victims critically injured. The deceased had sustained several deep cuts on the head and other parts of the body," Okema said.
Police later deployed a canine unit, which reportedly tracked and led investigators to one of the suspects' home.
Three suspects are currently in custody. They are; Alex Okech, 45, a stepbrother of the deceased, Vicky Aciro, 38, and Sophia Olwit, 65.
While police have not officially established the motive behind the killings, family sources allege that the murders may be linked to a bitter dispute over a commercial building located on Oyite Ojok Lane in Lira City.
According to sources familiar with the family, tensions have simmered for years over the management of proceeds from the property, with repeated disagreements among relatives.
The sources further alleged that members of the accused's family had on several occasions threatened Engol over the property, which he had reportedly been entrusted to manage following the death of his mother.
The dispute is also said to have strained relations within the wider family, with claims that the couple was earlier attacked at their home by unknown assailants, although the circumstances surrounding that incident remain unclear.
Faustino Olwit, a retired Chief Administrative Officer and clan leader, confirmed the existence of a family dispute over the property.
He explained that Engol had helped him complete construction of the commercial building and had been collecting rent on his behalf.
However, disagreements later emerged after another son questioned the management of the property and the handling of rental income.
"We held a family meeting and agreed that I and the two sons would become signatories to a bank account where all proceeds from the building would be deposited," Olwit said.
The elderly clan leader, however, declined to comment on allegations that one of his sons, now among the suspects in custody, could have been involved in the killing of his stepbrother and sister-in-law.
"I cannot comment on that because investigations are still ongoing," he said.
The killings have shocked residents of Lira City and added to growing concerns about violent crime in the North Kyoga region.
Police statistics show that murder through assault remains Uganda's leading cause of homicide. According to annual crime reports, assault-related murders accounted for 1,085 deaths in 2022, 1,127 in 2023, 1,339 in 2024, and 1,326 in 2025.
Security officials have consistently linked many of the killings to family feuds, land wrangles, domestic disputes and business-related conflicts.
Police said investigations into the double murder are continuing and appealed to the public to provide any information that could assist in establishing the full circumstances surrounding the attack.
While police have not officially established the motive behind the killings, family sources allege that the murders may be linked to a bitter dispute over a commercial building located on Oyite Ojok Lane in Lira City.
According to sources familiar with the family, tensions have simmered for years over the management of proceeds from the property, with repeated disagreements among relatives.
The sources further alleged that members of the accused's family had on several occasions threatened Engol over the property, which he had reportedly been entrusted to manage following the death of his mother.
The dispute is also said to have strained relations within the wider family, with claims that the couple was earlier attacked at their home by unknown assailants, although the circumstances surrounding that incident remain unclear.
Faustino Olwit, a retired Chief Administrative Officer and clan leader, confirmed the existence of a family dispute over the property.
He explained that Engol had helped him complete construction of the commercial building and had been collecting rent on his behalf.
However, disagreements later emerged after another son questioned the management of the property and the handling of rental income.
"We held a family meeting and agreed that I and the two sons would become signatories to a bank account where all proceeds from the building would be deposited," Olwit said.
The elderly clan leader, however, declined to comment on allegations that one of his sons, now among the suspects in custody, could have been involved in the killing of his stepbrother and sister-in-law.
"I cannot comment on that because investigations are still ongoing," he said.
The killings have shocked residents of Lira City and added to growing concerns about violent crime in the North Kyoga region.
Police statistics show that murder through assault remains Uganda's leading cause of homicide. According to annual crime reports, assault-related murders accounted for 1,085 deaths in 2022, 1,127 in 2023, 1,339 in 2024, and 1,326 in 2025.
Security officials have consistently linked many of the killings to family feuds, land wrangles, domestic disputes and business-related conflicts.
Police said investigations into the double murder are continuing and appealed to the public to provide any information that could assist in establishing the full circumstances surrounding the attack.