Suspect in Serere women’s murders lynched

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Less than a month after the murder of 16-year-old Rebecca Viola Abiro, a former student of Township SS, police have recorded another killing—that of 55-year-old Catherine Apio on March 12, 2025.

The deceased, a peasant and resident of Abulu village, Alengo parish, Atiira subcounty in Serere district, was allegedly raped and then strangled before her body was set on fire in a makeshift bar at Achilo trading centre.

“It is alleged that on Wednesday, 12 March, at around 03:00hrs, a temporary grass-thatched house used for drinking was seen burning. Upon checking, people who arrived at the scene discovered the dead body of an adult woman. They immediately removed the grass to stop the fire from spreading and informed authorities,” said Kyoga East Regional Police Commander Damalie Nachuha.

A team comprising homicide, canine, and scene-of-crime officers arrived, and the police dog was introduced to the scene. The canine led investigators to the house of Pati Odongo.

However, Odongo was not found at his home, prompting angry locals to mount a search. The community acted faster than the canine team, and through their own intelligence, they discovered that Odongo had gone into hiding at his father’s home, about two kilometres from Achilo in Kikota, Olio sub-county.

The enraged locals captured Odongo and lynched him before the police could arrive.

Sources in Achilo revealed that Odongo had recently returned from prison, where he had been jailed for the murder of his wife 11 years ago.

“We even doubt whether he fully served his sentence for murdering his wife. Since his return, we have not had peace because last year he was arrested for allegedly killing a woman at the same trading centre, but he was released due to lack of evidence,” said Beatrice Apio, the deputy LC3 of Atiira.

Govt to establish army detach

The government has agreed to establish an army detach to strengthen security in the district, according to Serere Woman MP and Minister of State for Fisheries Hellen Adoa.

She said the assurance for the army detach was given by Minister of Defence, Jacob Oboth, on March 10, 2025.

“This is aimed at supporting the police, who are thin on the ground due to the geographical location of the district,” Adoa said.

Additionally, security barazas are set to begin, with Lt Gen. Peter Elwelu taking the lead.

The killing of Apio on Wednesday brings the number of women murdered in Serere District since June last year to eleven.