Septic tank murder: Onebe’s trial resumes today

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The murder trial of businessman Francis Onebe resumes today, December 2, 2025, at the Criminal Division of the High Court in Kampala.

In the last court session, Justice Andrew Khaukha issued an arrest warrant against state witness Jenifer Yukuwe, who had declined to testify in the murder trial of the businessman, who is accused of killing his wife, Immaculate Mary Blessing Aiso.

Yukuwe is said to be the wife of Onebe’s co-accused, Bonny Oriekot, the former Pentagon Security guard.

The judge issued the order after Chief State Attorney Joseph Kyomuhendo said the witness was served with the court summons by process server Jacob Okello, but she expressed unwillingness to appear in court to testify against Onebe and Oriekot.

“The witness has stopped answering phone calls even after being served. This shows she has deliberately refused to come to court. I, therefore, pray for a warrant of arrest,” Kyomuhendo submitted, and his request was granted by the judge.

The other witnesses expected to testify against Onebe include Maureen Asiimwe and Sunday Francis Kabeera, both from MTN and Airtel telecommunications providers.

The judge also directed the prosecution to provide the defence team with a summary of the call data to enable them to consult their clients and adequately prepare their defence, in the interest of ensuring a fair trial.

The accused are represented by lawyers Patrick Kasumba, Joshua Emorut, and David Oluka.

The Case

Onebe, an accountant by profession, is accused of killing his wife, Aiso, and later dumping her body in a septic tank at their matrimonial home in Munyonyo.

On January 6, 2021, Onebe reported a case of his missing wife to 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 Crime Investigation Department of the Police Force.

Police preliminary investigations reveal that Onebe and his wife Aiso parted ways, and after 14 years, reunited and formally married until her murder.

Following a Police probe, Onebe was arrested and charged with the murder of his wife before the Makindye Chief Magistrates Court and later committed to the High Court for trial after completion of investigations.

The offence of murder elicits a maximum sentence of death on conviction.

In the committal papers, the Director of Public Prosecutions revealed that Onebe and Aiso had a dispute over sorcery, resulting in the death of his wife.