Suspect in Kakumiro LC1 chairperson’s murder undergoes mental assessment
The suspect, identified as John Turinawe, is being held at Kakumiro Central Police Station in connection with the death of Benon Byaruhanga, the LC1 chairperson of Gamugole Village, Nkooko sub-county, Kakumiro District.
Suspect in Kakumiro LC1 chairperson’s murder undergoes mental assessment
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Police in Kakumiro district have stepped up investigations into the murder of a 60-year-old Local Council 1 (LC1) chairperson, with detectives reconstructing the scene of crime and subjecting the prime suspect to a mental health assessment as part of the investigations.
The suspect, identified as John Turinawe, is being held at Kakumiro Central Police Station in connection with the death of Benon Byaruhanga, the LC1 chairperson of Gamugole Village, Nkooko sub-county, Kakumiro District.
Byaruhanga was allegedly murdered on February 10, 2026, under circumstances that still remain unclear.
The case was registered at Kakumiro Central Police Station under reference number CRB 138/2026, after which police commenced investigations.
Turinawe was arrested on August 11 at Apaa Trading Centre in Amuru District, where police said he had been hiding.
As part of the efforts to establish what happened on the night of the killing, investigators have decided to reconstruct the scene of crime, a procedure used to piece together the sequence of events, movements and circumstances surrounding the commission of an alleged offence.
The reconstruction is expected to help detectives compare information obtained during interviews with physical evidence at the scene and establish how the alleged murder may have occurred.
Turinamwe's arrest followed intelligence-led operations involving police teams from Albertine South Region and Amuru District.
Albertine South regional police spokesperson Allan Hakiza commended the cooperation between the two police regions, as well as members of the public whose information contributed to the arrest.
"The assessment is not, by itself, a determination of guilt or innocence, but forms part of the information investigators may consider as they build the case file, a police officer revealed.
Police said Turinawe remains in custody as investigations continue and that he will be produced in court once the case file is completed and the necessary legal processes are fulfilled.
MURDER STATISTICS
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.